13 People Killed and over 20 Wounded in Deadly Clashes Between Ayual and Hol Communities in Biothagany, Jonglei
Saturday, 07 June 2025 (PW) — A deadly clash on June 4, 2025, between the Ayual community of Twic East County and the Hol community of Duk County in Jonglei State has left 13 people dead and over 20 wounded, reigniting a volatile feud over the contested fishing grounds of Biothagany, a swampy area in the Sudd region. This recent bloodshed is the culmination of long-simmering tensions dating back to the 2023 killing of Deng Dau-Moradong, a prominent Ayual wrestler slain by Hol youth in the same area.
According to reports from both counties, the recent violence began when armed Hol youth launched a coordinated assault on Biothagany at dawn. The Ayual Community Global Leadership claims that the attackers were not only Hol youth, but were reinforced by SPLM-IO-aligned militias and Nuer armed groups from the Gaweer and Nyuong sub-communities. In a strongly worded public statement, the Ayual leadership described the attack as premeditated and part of a broader campaign to displace the Ayual from ancestral lands.
Twic East County Commissioner Juach Arok Juach confirmed the loss of seven lives, with four others missing. His counterpart in Duk County, John Chatim, acknowledged six deaths on their side, calling for calm and a government-led investigation. Both agree the situation remains tense and unresolved, despite promises of security intervention from the Jonglei State authorities.
This outbreak of violence is more than a clash over seasonal resources, it represents a complex intersection of ethnic mistrust, unresolved grievances, and militarized politics. Biothagany, while geographically remote, holds immense symbolic and survival value for both communities. In a region where food insecurity is worsening due to historic flooding and poor infrastructure, control over fishing and grazing areas can mean the difference between subsistence and starvation.
The situation escalated further on June 7 when Hol youth leaders issued a direct threat to Deng Kuir Bul, a Twic East youth political leader. They accused him of spreading misinformation and warned him of “painful consequences,” invoking the historic killing of Hol wrestler Mayen Ming. This personalized threat introduces an alarming dimension of political intimidation and deepens fears that the conflict is shifting from communal confrontations to targeted reprisals.
The path to peace must include investigating past killings, withdrawing armed actors, and engaging both communities in genuine reconciliation. Without accountability, Biothagany risks becoming a permanent flashpoint, where disputes over fish evolve into long-term cycles of revenge, displacement, and destruction. For Jonglei, and for South Sudan, this is not just a local crisis. It is a warning flare of broader state fragility.
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