South Sudan risks return to full-blown civil war as violence escalates

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Carlos Mureithi in NairobiMarch 3, 2026 at 04:49 PM

AI Summary

medium article 4 min

South Sudan is facing a potential return to full-blown civil war due to escalating violence between government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition forces allied with Riek Machar. Recent weeks have seen increased confrontations, including a deadly attack on a village in Abiemnom county on Sunday, resulting in at least 169 deaths and prompting the UN to shelter over 1,000 civilians. The UN mission in South Sudan said it was sheltering more than 1,000 civilians in its base in the area and providing medical care to those injured. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also reported 26 staff members missing and the suspension of medical activities in parts of Jonglei state due to intense fighting between the warring parties since December. MSF said its hospital in Lankien had been hit in an airstrike by government forces and later burned and looted, and its health facility in Pieri was looted.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Abiemnom county 40% Mayom county 40% White Army 40% Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) 50% Sudan 50% Jonglei ×250% UN 50% Doctors Without Borders (MSF) ×260% SPLA-IO 60% Riek Machar ×470% Salva Kiir ×270% South Sudan ×290%

Keywords

civil war 100% south sudan 90% escalating conflict 80% opposition forces 70% violence 70% humanitarian crisis 60% government forces 60% doctors without borders 50% internal displacement 50% spla-io 40%