Date: October 7, 2025
Location: Between Bilyaang and Mogiri, Juba County, Central Equatoria, South Sudan
Gunmen ambushed a public passenger vehicle traveling from Bor (in Jonglei State) toward the capital Juba on Tuesday morning along the Juba-Bor highway, injuring two passengers and intensifying pressure to relocate a local cattle market seen as a security risk.
What Happened
The attack occurred between Bilyaang and Mogiri in Central Equatoria.
The assailants targeted a vehicle carrying over 10 passengers. They looted money and luggage from passengers, forcing many to flee into nearby forested areas.
Two victims sustained head and shoulder injuries; their condition is reported to be stable. They were evacuated to Juba for medical treatment.
The remaining passengers, who hid during the assault, were later located and found unharmed.
Reigniting Long-Standing Demands
This assault has reignited demands by the Drivers’ Union in Jonglei State to relocate the Mogiri cattle auction market, which union leadership alleges attracts criminal elements preying on highway travelers.
“The market keeps criminals who attack the travelers each time they come off their cattle,” said Deng Jool, chairman of the Drivers’ Union.
Union leaders urge both the Central Equatoria State government and national authorities to select a safer location for the market, preferably one where arms are prohibited.
Official Response & Gaps
The national police spokesperson, Gen. James Monday Enoka, said he was not yet aware of the incident and was awaiting an official report.
Authorities in Central Equatoria have not responded publicly at the time of reporting.
State officials have previously stated that the Mogiri site was never formally designated for livestock trading, contributing to weak security oversight in the area.
Broader Implications & Reactions
Civil society groups condemned the ambush, linking it to South Sudan’s fragile peace environment under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Ter Manyang Gatwech, executive director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy, remarked:
“Such incidents are not acceptable… the main goal of R-ARCSS is to restore peace and security across the country.”
What to Watch
- Will the authorities act on the union’s demands to relocate the Mogiri market?
- Can enhanced security measures be deployed along the Juba-Bor highway to protect traveling civilians?
- Will this attack influence momentum (or setbacks) in implementing South Sudan’s peace agreement?
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