62 killed as Sudanese rebels, army clash

A clash in South Sudan has killed at least 62 rebels and militiamen, the army says.

File photo, a South Sudan soldier

A clash in South Sudan has killed at least 62 rebels and militiamen, the army says. (AAP)

At least 62 rebels and militiamen were killed in a clash with soldiers in South Sudan's oil-rich Upper Nile and Unity states, army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang says.

The rebel supporters of former deputy president Riek Machar attacked an army base near the town of Malakal on Thursday and Friday, according to Koang.

At least 35 others were injured, he said.

However, Colonel Gatjieth Gatluak, a spokesman for the rebels speaking to dpa by telephone from neighbouring Sudan, accused the army of initiating the clashes.

South Sudan sank into chaos when a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Machar, who is currently in South Africa receiving medical treatment, escalated into a military conflict in December 2013.

Tens of thousands have been killed and about 2.5 million displaced.

The formation of a unity government in April did not stop the fighting, and Machar later fled the country.


Share
1 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
62 killed as Sudanese rebels, army clash | SBS News