JUBA, South Sudan — At least 14 soldiers were killed and several others injured in South Sudan following a deadly shootout on Monday, which the military suspects was sparked by a “love triangle” dispute.
The clash occurred at a market near the oil-rich Abyei Box region, which straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan.
The violence erupted between members of the Unified VIP Protection Force, a crucial component of the 2018 peace deal that comprises both government troops and opposition fighters.
The incident is significant as the young nation’s fragile power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, Riek Machar, has been increasingly unraveling, stoking fears of a return to the civil war that claimed 400,000 lives in the 2010s.
Tensions were recently aggravated when Machar was indicted last month on charges of murder, treason, and crimes against humanity, and simultaneously stripped of his position as first vice president in the unity government.
Shootout Details and Casualties
According to Lul Ruai Koang, spokesman for the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the dispute began between two officers—one aligned with Machar’s faction (SPLA-IO) and the other with Kiir’s (SSPDF).
Koang provided reporters with two accounts during a press briefing at the army general headquarters in Juba: “There are two conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the crisis: first version says it was a purely personal misunderstanding between the two officers at a tea place and the other says it was a love triangle.”
He elaborated: “The two men reportedly quarrelled after both were reported to be romantically involved with the same lady.”
The confrontation quickly escalated when the Machar-aligned officer shot his Kiir-aligned counterpart, prompting their respective bodyguards to open fire. The violence spread rapidly from the market to primary checkpoints and nearby barracks.
Koang confirmed the official toll: “A total of 14 servicemen were killed: six from the SPLA-IO (Machar’s party) and eight from the SSPDF.”
Also Read: South Sudan court rejects Riek Machar’s immunity plea, clears way for treason trial
Five soldiers were injured and are currently receiving treatment, while the condition of one civilian reportedly caught in the crossfire remains unconfirmed.
The spokesman insisted the incident was not “politically motivated” but confirmed that a full investigation has been launched.
The clash comes weeks after the United Nations rights chief warned that South Sudan is on the brink of renewed war, having already seen nearly 2,000 civilian deaths from surging violence this year alone.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but was plunged into a civil war shortly thereafter.
Although a 2018 peace deal ended the widespread fighting, leaders have consistently failed to hold elections or unify the armed forces as stipulated by the agreement.
