Abyei orders manhunt after two men killed on New Year’s Eve

ABYEI – The Abyei Special Administrative Area has ordered a manhunt for suspects following the killing of two young men whose bodies were discovered in the Athok-giet neighbourhood of Abyei town on New Year’s Eve.

In a statement dated January 2, 2026, the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Yohana Akol Ngor, said the Abyei Town Police Division received reports of the incident on December 31, 2025, prompting the immediate deployment of an investigative team to the scene.

According to the statement, police officers initiated preliminary investigation procedures upon arrival and later confirmed the identities of the victims.

The Awiel community chief in Abyei verified that the two young men were sons of Awiel County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. However, authorities said the chief was unable to establish where the victims had been residing in Abyei town or within Amiet Market before the incident.

Following the discovery, the Awiel community leadership formally opened a criminal case, registered as case number 2080 under Articles 206 and 28, in the name of Sultan Bona Bol Achult. Security agencies said the case provides a legal framework for pursuing the suspects and advancing the investigation.

The Abyei Area Administration said all relevant security and law enforcement agencies have been fully mobilised and instructed to identify, pursue, and apprehend those responsible for the killings. Officials stressed that there would be no tolerance for acts that threaten public safety or undermine stability in the area.

While announcing the security response, the administration condemned the killings, describing them as a serious criminal act and a direct threat to public order. The statement reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting the lives of citizens, safeguarding their property, and maintaining peace and stability in Abyei.

Authorities also called on members of the Abyei community, the Awiel community residing in the area, and anyone with information that could assist the investigation to cooperate with police and come forward.

However, the names and ages of the victims were not disclosed in the official statement from the ministry.