The incident occurred in the Pan-liet neighbourhood, where Bahr El Ghazal traders had rented houses for residence and storage of goods.
Witnesses say the attackers, armed with pangas and machetes, stormed the buildings and assaulted the occupants before making away with millions of pounds in cash and valuables.
“They took 34 million South Sudanese Pounds, 7,000 US dollars, and phones,” said John Deng Madit, chairperson of the Bahr El Ghazal business community in Bor.
“Five people are now in critical condition at Bor Hospital. This kind of attack is alarming and appears xenophobic, specifically targeting us as a community,” Madit claimed.
He said the traders have since been relocated to the governor’s office premises for safety. “We are currently staying at the governor’s compound in Bor. The government must act quickly to arrest the culprits and guarantee our protection,” he urged.
A government source in Bor confirmed the attack and ongoing investigations, but admitted no arrests have been made. The official, who requested anonymity, linked the violence to widespread unemployment among young people, noting that similar incidents in the past sparked ethnic tensions and debates on social media.
The Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Youth Union has condemned the attack, calling it part of a disturbing pattern of targeted violence against their community in Bor.
“This brutality against our young entrepreneurs cannot be ignored,” said Acting Chairman Deng Peter Natali. “The Bor incident adds to a long list of mistreatment, beatings, and humiliations suffered by Northern Bahr El Ghazal citizens in Jonglei without justice. Such acts, fueled by hatred and prejudice, are violations of human rights.”
The union urged the Jonglei State government to apprehend the perpetrators swiftly and ensure accountability.
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect all South Sudanese, regardless of their state of origin. We demand justice for the victims and decisive action to prevent this dangerous trend of targeted attacks,” Natali emphasised.
