At least 14 people, including four soldiers and 10 militia members, have been killed in renewed violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state.
The clashes occurred near Nasir town, where fighting earlier this year led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir.
Machar’s detention has sparked international concerns about a potential return to civil war between Kiir’s Dinka forces and Nuer fighters loyal to Machar.
The violence began after fighters from the White Army, allegedly linked to Machar’s SPLM-IO party, attacked the South Sudan military on Monday, prompting a deadly response.
The SPLM-IO party and the White Army have denied any links, and their spokespeople were unavailable for comment.
This recent escalation has reignited fears of conflict along ethnic lines and poses a significant threat to the country’s fragile peace agreement.
