Fourteen passengers remain missing nearly two weeks after suspected armed men attacked a commercial boat travelling along a river in Jonglei State, according to the South Sudan Boat Operators’ Union.
The vessel, which was transporting a cargo of gum Arabic from Renk in Upper Nile State, was carrying 18 passengers when it reportedly came under attack in Twic East County, one of the country’s key river transport routes.
The union’s chairperson, Moses Duom Deir, said only four passengers managed to survive the assault after jumping into the river and swimming to safety before being rescued by another vessel.
“When the boat was attacked, four people escaped through the water and were picked up elsewhere,” Duom was quoted by Radio Miraya. “The boat and the remaining passengers have not been found.”
The fate of the missing passengers remains unknown, and no official search results have been announced. Authorities have yet to comment publicly on the reported attack or identify those responsible, leaving many questions unanswered over what happened on the river.
River transport is a vital lifeline for trade and movement across South Sudan, particularly during the rainy season when many roads become impassable. However, insecurity along some waterways continues to pose risks to commercial operators and civilians.
The reported attack comes amid broader security concerns elsewhere in the country.
In Central Equatoria State, officials say six civilians remain missing after a separate abduction in Morobo County near the border with Uganda.
According to the Central Equatoria State Security Committee, armed assailants abducted 36 civilians in the Gober area. Thirty of those abducted later managed to escape, while six remain unaccounted for.
Committee spokesperson and Juba Mayor Christopher Sarafino Wani said security forces had been directed to intensify efforts to locate the missing civilians and bring those responsible to justice.
“We have instructed the organized forces to pursue the case and ensure the safe recovery of those who are still missing,” Wani said.
The security committee also ordered the immediate reactivation of the state’s anti-gang task force, saying the unit will resume operations to combat rising criminal activity in Juba City and Juba County.
Officials say the renewed security operation is intended to strengthen law enforcement, improve public safety, and respond to growing concerns over violent crime and abductions in and around the capital.
