Clashes in South Sudan Kill at Least 20 Amid Renewed Political Violence

Violent clashes erupted in South Sudan's Upper Nile state between government forces and militia groups, including the White Army, resulting in at least 14 to 20 deaths. The fighting involved the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), and the White Army militia, which government officials and opponents link to First Vice President Riek Machar, though Machar and his party deny current connections. These clashes occurred near Nasir and Mathiang, areas previously marked by conflict that led to Machar's detention earlier in 2025. The violence has reignited fears of a return to civil war along ethnic lines between President Salva Kiir's Dinka forces and Machar's Nuer supporters, disrupting an uneasy power-sharing arrangement established after a 2018 peace deal. Military officials reported multiple attacks on government positions and significant casualties on both sides, with some opposition fighters captured. The escalating violence underscores the fragile security situation in South Sudan and the ongoing challenges to stability in the region.