By Philip Buda Ladu
Violence flared in Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, as a military detachment came under attack and a separate cattle raiding incident unfolded, local authorities and the army reported.
The day’s doom scenes began with reports from local chiefs detailing two simultaneous security threats.
First, suspected cattle herders from Mundari, raided livestock from Kinyiba boma, heading towards Kasurak in Lire payam. Concurrently, a military detach in Kansuk Boma, Nyepo payam, was assaulted by suspected National Salvation Front (NAS) forces.
“My dear people of Kajo-Keji, yesterday (Tuesday) we received reports from our chiefs in the morning that the Mundari cattle herders raided cattle from Kinyiba and were heading to Kasurak, and at the same time we also heard that our detach in Kansuk of Nyepo Payam was attacked by NAS rebels,” a local official stated.
Faced with two critical security situations, particularly those endangering civilian lives and property, authorities swiftly mobilized. The army was dispatched to address the rebel attack in Kansuk, while some organized forces pursued the cattle raiders.
The military operation in Kansuk resulted in the deaths of eight NAS rebels, including their commander, Major Ladu Alfred Lujang, at the initial attack site, and additional four rebels were killed in Gaderu boma of Nyepo payam as the remaining rebels were pursued.
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) released a statement confirming the attack and its response.
“Today (Tuesday), at 8: AM, March 25th, 2025, NAS rebels, launched a daring attack on own defensive foxholes at Kansuk, Nyepo Payam, Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State,” stated Major General Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson.
According to him, the rebels were “immediately repulsed and pursued” leaving 8 killed and a number of ammunitions recovered from the fleeing rebels.
“On conducting battlefield searches, 8 corpses were found on the ground including the body of the commanding officer, Maj. Lado Alfred Lujang. 6 AKM- 47 assault rifles were recovered from neutralized and fear-stricken NAS fighters who fled in disarray,” General Koang added.
Furthermore, other sources reported two army casualties and a civilian in the military barrack attack.
Meanwhile, the local authorities said organized forces also tracked the cattle raiders to a stream called Ki’bo as alerted forces in Kala and Mondi were deployed to secure potential crossing points, effectively cutting off the raiders’ escape routes.
“The organized forces pursued the cattle raiders up to Ki’bo stream, and the other out forces in Kala and Mondi were alerted to control all their crossing lines,” the official reported.
As of the latest reports, the situation in Kajo-Keji County has stabilized. However, the twin incidents highlight the persistent security challenges facing the area, including armed rebel activity and inter-communal tensions related to cattle raiding.