At least 272 die as South Sudan goes ‘back to war’

At least 272 people have died in fighting between South Sudan’s rival factions in the capital Juba, including 33 civilians, a government source said yesterday, as heavy gunfire erupted again in the city and many residents sought shelter at a UN base.

The fighting first broke out on Thursday and Friday between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers who support vice president Riek Machar.

Col William Gatjiath, Machar’s military spokesman, told the BBC that President Salva Kiir “isn’t serious” about a peace agreement and that the country was “back to war”.