Amnesty International has accused South Sudanese authorities and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of failing to protect residents from a massacre that killed more than 200 people in March. The rights organization released a report detailing how both entities possessed prior intelligence regarding an imminent attack yet failed to take effective preventive measures. The assault, which occurred on March 1 in Abiemnom town near the Sudanese border, was carried out by between 1,000 and 1,500 armed men from Unity State’s Mayom County.
According to the investigation, the attackers launched a four-hour assault that resulted in the deaths of at least 213 individuals, including children, and injured many others. The government reported that 130 town residents, 76 security force members, and seven foreign nationals were among the dead. Witnesses described attackers shooting residents in their homes, courtyards, and while attempting to flee. Some victims were executed at close range after being captured. The violence also led to the destruction of over 230 structures, including homes, a market, and parts of a local hospital, forcing the entire population of Abiemnom to flee.
Amnesty International found that both the South Sudanese government and UNMISS were aware of the threat at least two weeks before the attack. Community members and media reports indicated that warnings had been issued about the mobilization of fighters seeking revenge for previous killings. UNMISS acknowledged that tensions had been high since mid-February, with approximately 1,000 people seeking shelter at its Temporary Operation Base in the 48 hours preceding the assault. Despite this, the mission did not deploy additional personnel until after the violence had ceased. "Their failure to take stronger action cost lives," the report stated, attributing the sentiment to Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s regional director for East and Southern Africa.
The report highlights that seven killings occurred outside the rear gates of the UNMISS base, where residents had sought protection. A local leader told researchers that attackers intercepted people trying to reach the base. Amnesty International is calling for an independent, impartial investigation by South Sudanese authorities and a review of UNMISS’s response. The organization urges the government to establish a parliamentary inquiry and guarantee reparations for survivors. UNMISS has responded to Amnesty’s findings, outlining steps taken before, during, and after the attack, though the rights group maintains that the mission’s inaction remains a critical failure.