International

115 soldiers confirmed dead in South Sudan independence anniversary bloodshed

Published

8 years ago

July 10, 2016

115 soldiers confirmed dead in South Sudan independence anniversary bloodshed

According to reports, at least 115 soldiers from different armed factions have been confirmed dead after gun duels broke out across the South Sudan capital of Juba sparking fears of a return to all-out war.

Reports say the gun battle which began outside the presidential compound as President Salva Kiir was meeting with first vice president and former rebel leader Riek Machar soon spread through the city claiming the lives of many armed men.

Spokesman for Machar’s military faction, William Gatjiath Deng, said the fighting had occurred near the state house and in army barracks.

“In the morning we collected and counted 35 (dead) from the SPLM-IO (Machar’s faction) and 80 people from the government forces,” he was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agencyon Saturday.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now