POCHALLA, South Sudan – A horrific massacre has taken place in the town of Pochalla in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, according to a press release issued by the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA). At least 127 people are reported dead in what PCCA has called “a mindless orgy of violence and destruction.”
The killings occurred on September 15 when an armed youth group launched attacks on the town. According to eyewitness accounts, the youths went door-to-door, pulling people out of their homes and murdering them in cold blood. Victims included elderly men and women, as well as young children.
“The scenes of carnage left behind by these youths are unlike anything our people have witnessed before,” said John Agany, a Pochalla resident who lost six family members in the attack. “They showed absolutely no mercy – killing indiscriminately and burning houses to the ground.”
PCCA stated the attacks appear to have been well-planned and coordinated, given the large number of assailants involved. The motives remain unclear, though ethnic tensions in Jonglei State have been escalating in recent months.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir condemned the massacre as “an act of evil that has no place in our nation.” He vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace and stability to Pochalla.
The UN Mission in South Sudan also denounced the killings, calling for restraint from all groups and accelerated efforts to advance peace, reconciliation and healing.
This latest outbreak of violence has raised concerns that the fragile peace process in South Sudan could be derailed. The country has been mired in civil war since 2013, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.
“The world cannot stand idly by while such horrific acts are committed,” said James Pitia, the PCCA coordinator. “There must be accountability and justice for the victims of this massacre. We urge the international community to assist South Sudan in ending this cycle of violence.”
As Pochalla reels from this brutal attack, many fear retaliation and further deadly clashes if tensions are allowed to escalate. South Sudan stands at a critical juncture, needing strong leadership and nationwide reconciliation to prevent the country from slipping back into all-out civil war. The massacre in Pochalla serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of the current peace and the innocent lives at stake.
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