Observers question the groups operation and its links to powerful political figures
Juba Watch Dog | South Sudan News
Former Ruweng Chief Administrator Mayol Kur has raised serious questions about the role of armed youth groups in South Sudan, especially the Terchuong militia from Mayom County in Unity State.
Speaking during a funeral service in Juba for victims of the deadly Abiemnhom attack that killed more than 200 people in March 2026, Mayol Kur asked:
“We don’t have militias, but officials who are our neighbors keep creating militias. Who is responsible for them? Who feeds them? Who gives them guns? Who orders them to attack places in South Sudan?”
Investigations by Radio Tamazuj say Terchuong was formed during the 2013 civil war to support the government of President Salva Kiir against opposition forces.
Mayom County Commissioner John Bol Mayak openly admitted that the youth were mobilized to defend the government and Unity State leadership during the conflict.
However, critics accuse the group of being involved in cattle raids, revenge killings, and attacks on neighboring communities.
The debate has intensified after the recent Abiemnhom massacre, where local officials from Ruweng accused armed youth from Mayom County, including members of Terchuong, of taking part in the attack. Terchuong leaders denied involvement.
Former Governor Riek Bim Top had dissolved the militia in 2024, calling it illegal, but reports now suggest the group has resurfaced after the reappointment of Unity State Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil in March 2026.
South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution clearly states that no individual or group is allowed to form armed forces outside the official military structures.
The situation continues to raise concerns about insecurity, revenge violence, and the growing presence of armed youth groups across the country.
— Juba Watch Dog
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