Amid a prolonged drought in South Sudan, remote villages like Lohobohobo rely on traditional rainmakers to secure crops and livelihoods. Solomon Atur, a local rainmaker, was blamed for failing to bring rain and fled in fear, but was forcibly returned and buried alive by villagers. This tragic event underscores the deadly consequences of extreme superstition compounded by food insecurity and climate stress. Over the past four decades, several rainmakers in the disappearing mountain ranges have faced similar fates, including burial, burning, or exile. Experts say the climate crisis, recurring droughts, and rising frustration among agrarian communities are fueling violence against traditional practitioners, reflecting the dangerous intersection of environmental hardship and local beliefs. Al Jazeera confirmed the incident through multiple sources, including family members and local officials.
Lohobohobo is a remote village located west of the disappearing mountain ranges in South Sudan. For the small agricultural community there, rain was a shield for their crops. Bringing this rain was the responsibility of Solomon Atur, a traditional “rainmaker” who called for rain through prayers and rituals.
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