Clashes flare southwest of South Sudan's capital

Fighting erupted in South Sudan late Saturday southwest of the capital between forces loyal to the president and the opposition, an opposition spokesman said, after fierce fighting last month in Juba raised fears of a slide back into civil war, the Daily Star reported on Sunday.

Witnesses reported heavy gunfire in the region around Yei, which lies on a road linking the capital Juba with neighboring Uganda. There was no immediate comment from the government side.

Following the July fighting, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of a 4,000-strong protection force to support the existing 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission.

Opposition spokesman James Gatdet blamed government forces for sparking clashes around Yei. "Our forces have managed to close Juba-Yei road. Our forces destroyed government's convoy that attacked our forces in the area," he said.

Each side regularly blames the other for any fighting.

Political differences between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar first erupted into conflict in late 2013. They signed a peace deal in August 2015, but sporadic fighting has continued.

Source ; MENA