South Sudan is experiencing a surge in violence as clashes between government forces and opposition-aligned militias threaten to reignite a full-scale civil war.
Deadly raid near Sudan border
On Sunday, at least 169 people were killed when armed youth from Mayom county raided a village in Abiemnom county near the Sudan border. Victims included women, children, and security personnel. The UN mission in South Sudan is sheltering over 1,000 civilians and providing medical care to the 23 injured.
Authorities say the attack involved the White Army, a militia previously allied with suspended vice-president Riek Machar, alongside forces affiliated with his party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO). The group denied responsibility.
Humanitarian crisis worsens
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported 26 staff members missing after attacks on hospitals and health facilities in Jonglei state, forcing the suspension of medical operations in Lankien and Pieri. Thousands of civilians have been displaced as fighting continues.
Historical and political context
President Salva Kiir and Machar, former allies in the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, fought for independence from Sudan in 2011. A civil war erupted in 2013 after Kiir dismissed Machar, leading to over 400,000 deaths and nearly half of the population displaced. Ethnic divisions between the Dinka and Nuer communities largely fuelled the conflict.
A 2018 peace deal restored Machar to the vice-presidency and established a unity government, but implementation has been weak. Machar was suspended in September over criminal charges related to attacks by the White Army, raising tensions and fueling renewed violence.
Opposition unifies under Machar
Analysts say the government’s targeting of Machar has strengthened opposition forces, unifying groups previously split from him. Fighting in Jonglei state since December has displaced approximately 280,000 people. The UN has warned that South Sudan is at risk of returning to all-out civil war.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for urgent measures to preserve the peace agreement and prevent further destabilisation.
Also read: UN: 6,000 killed in three days after an attack in el-Fasher, Sudan
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