Gunmen kill two, injure three in Tonj South road ambush

JUAJOK – At least two local traders have been killed and three others critically injured in a roadside ambush in Tonj South County in South Sudan’s Warrap State, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening as the traders were returning to Manyang-Ngok Payam after attending a market day. The group was travelling on a rickshaw — locally known as a tuk-tuk — loaded with purchased goods, when they were intercepted and shot at by unidentified gunmen along the road.

Marko Mawien Madut, the Police Inspector in Tonj South County, confirmed the attack in an interview with Mayardit FM, a local radio station based in Twic County.

“What happened is that the local traders bought their commodities of all types and put them into a rickshaw (tuk-tuk). While on their way, they were waylaid and shot at around 4:00 PM,” Madut said.

He added that two of the traders died on the spot, while three others sustained life-threatening injuries and were rushed for urgent medical treatment.

“Two people died immediately and three are critically ill,” he stated.

Madut said the attackers fled the scene after the ambush and remain at large. Security forces have since been deployed to the area to investigate the incident and pursue the perpetrators.

“We have sent forces to the scene, but so far nobody has given information about the shooting,” he added.

The attack has sparked fear among traders and residents who depend on market travel routes for their livelihoods. Many local traders now worry about moving goods between payams amid repeated reports of roadside attacks.

This is not the first such incident in recent days. Just last Sunday, another ambush in Ajak-Kuac Payam left a driver seriously injured, raising alarm over what residents describe as a worsening security situation across parts of Tonj South.

The incident sparked calls from community leaders on state authorities to reinforce patrols and secure major trading routes to prevent further attacks, amid warnings that continued insecurity could disrupt economic activity, deepen humanitarian challenges, and inflame already fragile communal relations in the area.