South Sudan: New clashes between SPLA troops and SPLA-IO rebels raise risk of civil war
South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity state saw heaving fighting this weekend when clashes between government troops (SPLA) and the armed opposition (SPLA-IO) broke out in Rubkotna county.
The Sudan Tribune confirmed the heavy gunshots and bombardments with a group of civilians who fled the area to the United Nations camp in Bentiu.
One civilian, who identified as Peter, said the fighting occurred in Wichbaar, Tong and Pakuur northwest of Bentiu.
On Monday, Former South Sudan First Vice President Riek Machar, who leads the SPLA-IO, pushed for an armed campaign against the government of President Salva Kiir — a call that could revive the country’s civil war.
The opposition faction had predicted imminent attacks from government forces, according to SPLA-IO’s media representative, Weirial Puok Baluang. The group dealt “heavy causalities against the government forces” during the most recent clashes, Puok said.