South Sudan orders civilians to evacuate the northern region when fighting armed groups

Juba, South Sudan (AP) – The South Sudan government on Monday asked civilians to leave the northern region the day after the military carried out air strikes on an armed group accused of overtaking military bases and attacking UN helicopters.

The group’s attack in Nasir County threatened that President Salva Kiir and his rivals turned Vice President Riek Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018 that ended a five-year civil war, during which more than 400,000 people were killed.

Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters that any civilians in the military zone refused to “treat accordingly.”

Luce confirmed that the Army carried out air strikes in Nasir County Sunday night and will continue to do so.

Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep told local media that more than a dozen civilians were killed in the air strike.

The Army did not confirm the killing of civilians.

Government forces have been clashing with an armed group known as the White Army in Nasir County, and some believe they have an alliance with Machar.

Kiir has infuriated Machar’s faction in recent weeks by firing officials loyal to Machar, saying “the ongoing violations are threatened through unilateral decision-making and decrees”.

Earlier this month, government forces surrounded Machar’s home in the capital Juba, and several of his allies were arrested after the White Army occupied the military base in Nasir County.