Fighting between two clan sections in Tonj East, a county in South Sudan’s Warrap State, killed at least four people, a figure that so far rests on a single local report. It began at about 4 p.m. on Thursday 12 November 2026 and flared again early on Friday 13 November.
Wol Mayom, Warrap State’s caretaker (acting) information minister, said the clash was between the Nyang-rup and Nyang-wier sections and linked it to a girl’s elopement between the two clans. He said soldiers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, the national army, had been sent to the county headquarters and affected areas, and he appealed for calm.
Key Facts
- Who The Nyang-rup and Nyang-wier clan sections in Tonj East, Warrap State.
- What At least four people killed; the number of wounded is not known.
- When Fighting began about 4 p.m. on Thursday 12 November and flared again on Friday 13 November.
- Response Soldiers of the national army have been sent to the county headquarters and affected areas.
What Is Not Known
The count of at least four dead rests on one local report, which also links the dispute to land and cattle. The number of wounded, and whether fighting has stopped, are not known.
Mayom said the state government would consider further measures to settle the dispute once the fighting stops. Tonj East has seen deadly fighting before, as in our report on the October clashes.
Related coverage: South Sudan’s election body on new dates and the killing of a ruling-party nominee this week. More is on our South Sudan page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tonj East?
Tonj East is a county in South Sudan’s Warrap State. Renewed fighting was reported in Tonj East’s Romich area on Friday morning.
What caused the Tonj East clashes?
Warrap State’s caretaker information minister, Wol Mayom, linked them to a girl’s elopement between the Nyang-rup and Nyang-wier sections. The local report also links the dispute to land and cattle; neither cause has been independently confirmed.
Sources: remarks by Wol Mayom, Warrap State caretaker information minister, as relayed in one local report of 13 November 2026.
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