At least eight people were killed, 18 others wounded and dozens of families displaced following intercommunal clashes over a land dispute between the Jor and Koggi communities in Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State.
The violence erupted April 11, 2025, over a disputed agricultural area known as Maduria, according to Terekeka County authorities. The conflict escalated into a gunbattle involving heavy and light weapons, destroying homes in Koggi Boma and forcing mass displacement.
“We thought it was a small misunderstanding,” said Galdino Bota, Terekeka County’s executive director. “But the communities were well-armed. The Koggi side was overwhelmed. Five of their people were killed on the first day. From Jor, eight were wounded and one person died.”
Bota said homes in the Koggi community were burned, and residents — mostly women and children — fled into nearby bushes or toward Terekeka town for safety. He confirmed that Terekeka Secondary School and Terekeka Primary School were closed as displaced families sheltered there.
Displaced families seek safety after deadly clashes in Terekeka (Photo: Governor Jadallah’s office)
Central Equatoria State Governor Augustino Jadalla visited the scene of the incident on April 12, calling the violence “heartbreaking.”
“We must reject the politics of division,” he told displaced residents. “This problem is not caused by you — it is stirred by political actors with selfish agendas. You are all Mundari people. Unity, not division, must define our way forward.”
The governor ordered an immediate security deployment to restore calm and pledged government aid, including food and supplies, for displaced families.
Acting Information Minister Jacob Aligo, who accompanied the governor, confirmed the severity of the clashes.
“Almost the entire village of Koggi has been displaced,” Aligo said. “We also saw damage to some structures in Terekeka town. But the governor’s visit has helped cool tensions.”
Security forces have since been reinforced, and Bota said no further gunfire was reported as of Sunday. Authorities said investigations are ongoing, and a full assessment of destroyed homes will be released soon.