The military wing of South Sudan’s opposition accused forces allied with President Salva Kiir of attacking two training bases near Juba, raising fears of renewed conflict.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, said its camps were attacked on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
SPLA-IO spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel condemned the assaults as “terrorism” and urged international intervention, vowing the group would defend itself if provoked.
These attacks follow claims that another SPLA-IO base was targeted on Monday. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), aligned with Kiir, has not confirmed the incidents.
The training camps were established to integrate opposition forces into a unified army, a key provision of the fragile 2018 peace deal. That agreement ended a five-year civil war that killed 400,000 people, yet the country remains plagued by political instability and violence.
Juba remained calm on Wednesday, but citizens expressed concerns about the escalating violence. “I feel like we are going back to war while we still need peace,” said resident Lilian Sukeji.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) called on Kiir and Machar to reaffirm their commitment to peace, warning that renewed conflict would devastate both the nation and the wider region.
Recent clashes, particularly in northeastern Nasir County, have intensified tensions. Analysts warn that without dialogue, violence could spiral out of control, making it difficult for Kiir and Machar to contain.
Despite assurances from Kiir of his commitment to peace, growing unrest signals a precarious future for the world’s youngest nation.