Amnesty accuses UN of failing civilians in South Sudan massacre

Amnesty International has accused the South Sudanese government and United Nations peacekeepers of failing to prevent a deadly attack that claimed at least 213 lives in Abiemnom, despite receiving warnings about a possible assault up to two weeks before it occurred.

In a report published on November 11, 2026, titled The Abiemnom Massacre: Inaction and Impunity in South Sudan, the human rights organisation said authorities and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) had received intelligence indicating that armed groups were mobilising fighters and weapons ahead of the March 1 attack.

According to the report, between 1,000 and 1,500 armed men from Mayom County in neighbouring Unity State stormed Abiemnom, located in the Ruweng Administrative Area, in the early hours of March 1.

The assault lasted approximately four hours, leaving 213 people dead and at least 109 others injured, according to local government figures cited by Amnesty.

The attackers reportedly shot residents, including children, looted shops and parts of the local hospital, and set fire to homes and sections of the market.

Amnesty also documented killings of people attempting to escape the violence, as well as widespread destruction of property that forced residents to flee their homes.

The organisation said seven people were killed near the rear entrance of a UNMISS temporary operating base while seeking protection, raising further questions about the mission’s ability to safeguard civilians during the attack.

Amnesty’s findings were based on interviews with 82 people, including survivors, witnesses, medical personnel and community leaders, alongside an examination of satellite images, photographs and verified videos.

The report further questioned why UNMISS deployed an additional 40 police personnel after the massacre rather than strengthening its presence before the attack, despite indications that violence was imminent.

However, the UN mission defended its response, saying it had operated under significant resource constraints.

UNMISS said it had taken steps to protect civilians and provide emergency medical assistance, with approximately 2,500 people sheltering at a protected site during the violence.

It also said it had repeatedly urged South Sudanese authorities to deploy additional security forces following early warnings.

In a statement issued on March 1, UNMISS had confirmed that tensions in Abiemnom had escalated over the preceding 48 hours, with more than 1,000 civilians seeking protection at its base.

Amnesty’s findings also highlight concerns about repeated violence in the area, noting that Abiemnom had experienced another deadly attack in April 2025, raising questions about whether lessons from previous incidents had been implemented.

The organisation is now calling for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the massacre, as well as a separate review of UNMISS’s response before, during and after the attack.

It also wants those responsible brought to justice and survivors provided with medical, psychological and livelihood support.

South Sudanese authorities had not responded to Amnesty’s requests for comment by the time the report was published.