South Sudan’s opposition army, the SPLA-IO, stated Wednesday that two of its training bases outside Juba were attacked by forces aligned with President Salva Kiir.
This development stokes concerns about a resurgence of conflict in the young nation.
These alleged attacks follow a series of recent clashes that threaten the fragile 2018 power-sharing agreement between Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
The SPLA-IO condemned the reported Tuesday and Wednesday assaults on their camps as “terrorism.”
Spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel urged international intervention and asserted the opposition’s right to self-defense.
The targeted training centers were crucial for integrating opposition forces into a unified national army, a key component of the peace deal.
While the Kiir-aligned South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have not confirmed these incidents, the claims have heightened tensions.
Juba remained outwardly calm on Wednesday, yet residents expressed deep worry about the escalating situation.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) called for an urgent meeting between Kiir and Machar to reaffirm their commitment to peace.
