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The gold mining site at Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria State
has in the past been the site of violent clashes involving
illegal miners. Gold mining in South Sudan is largely
unregulated, with state governments operating their own sectors
independently of national authorities.
Police spokesperson Kwacijwok Dominic Amondoc said he would
share more information about the attack once he gets more
details. “All I know is that unknown gunmen attacked Jebel Iraq
at a gold mine. There are more than 70 dead and many more
injured,” he said.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition, or
SPLM/A-IO, condemned the attack on Monday and blamed government
forces, known as the SSPDF.
“Jebel Iraq lies within a zone that is entirely under the
exclusive control of the SSPDF. Consequently, full
responsibility for the massacre rests with the SSPDF forces that
control the area,” a statement from the opposition said.
The army spokesperson told The Associated Press he couldn’t
comment on the incident.
A local civil rights group, the Nile Institute for the Study of
Human Rights and Transitional Justice, condemned the attack and
called for “effective governance and oversight in resource-rich
areas.”
“This horrific act represents a grave violation of the
fundamental right to life and highlights the continued
vulnerability of civilians in areas affected by a weak security
presence and unregulated resource exploitation,” the group wrote
in a statement.
Human rights activist Edmund Yakani urged the authorities to
address the emerging trend of communities competing for natural
resources.
“My appeal is to the government to intervene and stop this
culture of illegal gold mining across the country,” he said.
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