Massacre in South Sudan Mine: Blame Game Ensues

0:00On March 31st, at least 74 mine-workers got gunned down over the weekend in Jebel Iraq, a mineral-rich-spot southwest of Juba in South Sudan. Gunmen hit hard in an area the Army controls, and now government and opposition sides are pointing fingers at each other over the massacre. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement and Opposition tied to suspended Vice President Reik Mashaar slammed the attack first, blaming government, troops since they run their zone. Meanwhile, the acting governor of Central Equatoria State called it a brutal hit by rebels, vowing quick action to hunt down those responsible. Deputy Information Minister David Yao Yao went on National Radio Monday night, straight up accusing the opposition group of the killings. Other rebel outfits operate nearby, like the National Salvation Front, but nobody's owned up to it yet. Vice President James Wanigat labelled it a heinous massacre against the local economy's backbone, demanding a full probe into who did it and why.

1:01Mashaar's camp wants the UN to dig into this and other alleged war crimes, while he's been under house arrest in Juba for over a year facing serious charges he denies. South Sudan's got gold and minerals galore, with legal deals and widespread illegal digs, fueling tensions in places like Equatoria. Officials promise no more terror on civilians, but with accusations flying, the regions on edge as investigations kick off. This has been Global News Today, powered by AI.