JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Clashes last week between armed groups from rival communities in the central part of South Sudan left scores of people dead and overwhelmed a hospital with wounded people, officials said.
The fighting swept through the Rumbek area of Lakes state on Friday as government soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers tried to maintain order. South Sudan's Information Ministry said that about 70 people were killed, including four soldiers, but that the exact toll had yet to be verified.
“We were overwhelmed with the gunshot patients,” Teran Madit, a clinical officer at Rumbek State Hospital, told The Associated Press by telephone Monday. He said the hospital received more than 50 wounded people, most with chest injuries.
The fighting involved armed youths from the Pakam community in Rumbek North County fighting against armed youths of the Nyang community in Rumbek Central County, both part of the Dinka ethnic group.
Disputes over cattle and grazing land, along with revenge killings, have fueled repeated violence in Lakes state, but the immediate cause of Friday’s clashes was unclear. South Sudanese analyst Machot Amuom said unresolved tensions between the communities had left the area vulnerable to renewed violence.
“There were buried tensions and everybody knew that this could flare up, because the root causes of the violence between these communities were never addressed,” he said.
Madit, who operated on seven patients at Rumbek State Hospital on Friday, described scenes of chaos there. Some patients who came to seek treatment left again amid rumors that they could be killed at the hospital.
Daniel Laat Kon, who heads the Lakes state branch of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, a South Sudanese civil society group, said he was among thousands of residents of the area who fled as gunfire erupted early Friday.
“The security forces tried their level best, but they were outnumbered by the armed youths,” he said.
Kon said soldiers were killed trying to repel the attackers. He returned home after the attackers withdrew that afternoon, he said.
The government said Friday that troops and police had brought Rumbek under control. Security forces arrested four armed civilians and recovered four firearms, according to the ministry’s statement, which urged communities to avoid retaliatory attacks.
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said Friday that Nepalese peacekeepers deployed a rapid response force to “help deter the fighting and protect the local hospital and humanitarian compounds.”
The bloodshed comes as South Sudan prepares for its first national elections since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.
President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional government on Sept. 22 and appointed a caretaker administration ahead of elections scheduled for Dec. 22. His decree also dissolved the national legislature and state governments. Elections have repeatedly been delayed.
Amuom said the dissolution had contributed to the insecurity by leaving key local government posts vacant.
“The caretaker county commissioners have not yet been appointed, and the armed youths took advantage of it,” he said.
The power-sharing administration grew out of a 2018 peace agreement that ended five years of civil war in which an estimated 400,000 people died.
Kon called on the government to disarm civilians, questioning how elections could proceed amid such insecurity.
“How can we be preparing for an election, registering voters, conducting civic education, when people live in fear?” he said.
FILE - The silhouettes of South Sudanese people are seen through a South Sudanese flag as they line up to cast their votes in Juba, South Sudan, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)
HOUSTON (AP) — C.J. Stroud had another strong game Sunday to lead the Houston Texans to their first win.
Now he and the Texans get a big boost with the addition of receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who was acquired in a trade with Arizona this weekend.
Stroud threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to help the Texans to a 26-3 win over Tennessee on Sunday.
Stroud ranks third in the NFL with 1,402 yards passing and he’s attempted 185 passes without an interception to start the season.
“He’s doing a great job of protecting the football but also dishing the ball to multiple people,” coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “Really playing the plays confident. Offensive line has given him time to operate on schedule, and he’s doing a great job of just leading this offense. We continue to lean in on what he’s doing well and I can’t say enough great things about the season that he’s having thus far.”
Ryans said Harrison should arrive in Houston on Monday and they will try to get him acclimated quickly so he can help this week. He’s hoping that Harrison’s familiarity with Stroud from their time together at Ohio State will help ease the transition.
“I think anytime you have players who have spent time together, whether it’s college or other teams, just having that prior relationship definitely helps when you come into a new situation,” Ryans said.
Harrison was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, but failed to live up to expectations in his time in Arizona. He had 885 yards receiving in 17 games as a rookie and 608 yards receiving in 12 games last season. But he had just five catches for 85 yards in the first four games this season before landing on the inactive list for Sunday’s game as the team looked to trade him.
“He’s another really great playmaker,” Ryans said. “He’s crushed a lot of college records. Got multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons in college. All-American, always been a top receiver when he’s been on the field. He has good rapport with C.J. from their time at Ohio State. We’re excited to get him in, add another great player to our group.”
Harrison had more than 2,400 yards receiving and 28 touchdown receptions combined in his last two seasons with the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Harrison gives the Texans another big receiver to play opposite star Nico Collins, who is 6-4 and 222 pounds.
Ryans said he isn’t worried about what happened with Harrison in Arizona and said he’ll start in Houston with a clean slate.
“That’s the great part of being a Houston Texan,” he said. “All the stuff that happened prior to you coming, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what people say about you… if you focus on just being a great teammate, focus on helping the Houston Texans be great, then we’ll be just fine.”
Houston’s defense looked much better Sunday than it had in previous weeks with Ryans taking over play-calling from defensive coordinator Matt Burke. It was the first time since Week 4 of last season that the Texans did not allow a touchdown.
They held the Titans to just 187 total yards after allowing an average of 343.75 yards a game through the first four weeks. The unit also forced two turnovers Sunday after having just three combined entering the game.
The Texans continue to pile up penalties. They had 11 for 95 yards on Sunday after being flagged 13 times for 90 in a loss to the Cowboys last week.
“We have to get the penalties cleaned up,” Ryans said. “It’s not good enough at all for us ... if we want to continue to progress as a team, we have to clean up the penalties. You can’t hurt yourself.”
DE Will Anderson had another great game Sunday to lead the defense. The fourth-year player had three sacks, three quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.
Anderson’s 7 ½ sacks and 10 tackles for loss are both first in the NFL and he’s the only player this season to have at least 2 ½ sacks in multiple games.
“He’s the best defensive player right now on our team, probably in the NFL,” Ryans said. “He’s just everything you want. You talk about a guy who plays with passion, a guy who has this undeniable strain and relentlessness to him, that’s what Will exhibits every single time he lines up on the field.”
WR Kayshon Boutte hasn’t made much of an impact this season after being traded from New England in August after receiver Jayden Higgins sustained a season-ending knee injury. Boutte had just three receptions for 38 yards Sunday and has 153 yards receiving in five games this season.
Ryans said RB David Montgomery (groin) and S Jalen Pitre (shoulder) will be listed week to week with their injuries.
25 — Sunday’s win gave the Texans 25 wins in the series against Tennessee to take their first lead in the series, a 25-24 advantage.
The Texans face a big challenge this week with a trip to London to face the AFC South-leading Jaguars, who are 4-1.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches play against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) celebrates after sacking Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward during the second half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) celebrates his touchdown catch against the New York Giants with Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams (74), offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (70) and offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson (65) during an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/John Amis)
