At least 169 people have been killed in a mass grave following a brutal attack in northern South Sudan, local officials confirmed on Monday.

The incident is the latest in a growing wave of violence across the country, where clashes between forces allied to the opposition and government troops under President Salva Kiir have intensified.

Elizabeth Achol, Minister of Health for the northern Ruweng Administrative Area, told AFP that 169 bodies had been laid to rest in a mass grave.

James Monyluak, the local information minister, corroborated the toll, adding that the number could rise if more victims are discovered.

The dead reportedly include women, children, and the elderly.

Around 50 others were injured in the attack and transported to medical facilities in Abyei and Warrap State for treatment.

Many residents fled to nearby villages or sought protection at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) compound in the county.

A diplomatic source indicated that a Nuer group may have carried out the attack in apparent revenge for the killing of some local traders, though no organization has officially claimed responsibility.

Monyluak confirmed that government security forces are now deployed in the area and have stabilized the situation.

UNMISS peacekeepers are temporarily sheltering roughly 1,000 civilians at their base and providing emergency medical care to the injured.

The violence has further aggravated the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, which has seen thousands displaced in recent months.

This massacre highlights the urgent need for international attention and conflict resolution in the region.

Analysts warn that unless measures are taken, such attacks could escalate into wider civil unrest.