About 50 people have been killed and more than 140 others wounded after violent clashes erupted between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in the border town of Burebiey, Nasir County, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Upper Nile State Governor James Koang said the fighting broke out on Saturday and quickly escalated, leaving heavy casualties on both sides.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as families fled their homes, with many seeking safeties across the border into Ethiopia.
“The situation remains tense, and there are fears the clashes could reignite,” Koang warned, urging both parties to honor the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
South Sudan’s fragile peace deal has faced repeated setbacks, with clashes between government and opposition forces continuing despite commitments to end hostilities.
Upper Nile State has been a flashpoint in recent years, where contested borders, unresolved grievances, and local rivalries often spark violence.
The deadly fighting in Burebiey underscores the volatility of the peace process and the urgent need for renewed dialogue to prevent further bloodshed.
