16 Killed In Fresh Fighting In South Sudan –UN

At least 16 civilians have been killed and 10 others injured in South Sudan’s north western town of Wau, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Monday.

The mission said the killing following sporadic fighting between government-backed militia and local youths,
It also said the fight started after a number of SPLA soldiers were killed in an ambush on Sunday in the south of Wau.

“The Mission mounted two patrols into Wau on Monday and said it had observed the bodies of 16 civilians in a hospital.

‘’There were 10 people who had been injured,” the UNMISS said in a statement.

The UN mission said 84 people had arrived at the UN protection of civilian site, while influx of at least 3,000 people into a Catholic church in the town, mostly women and children.

“The fighting follows the movement of SPLA troops, tanks and equipment towards the southwestern part of Wau late last week,” UNMISS said.

South Sudan has been devastated by civil strife that broke out in December 2013. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed with over two million displaced since then.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 led to the formation of a transitional unity government, but was again shattered by fresh violence in July, 2016.