The United Nations mission announced today, Friday, that 13 people have died in a conflict between two ethnic groups in a camp run by the organization, housing displaced individuals in northern South Sudan. The clashes began yesterday, Thursday, when a man was stabbed to death by individuals from both communities residing in the camp located in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State.
Ben Malour, spokesperson for the UN mission in South Sudan, stated in a statement, "Initial reports from the mission indicated that at least three people were killed and more than 20 injured, with some receiving treatment at the mission's hospital." He added, "Later today, the deaths of ten more individuals were confirmed." The camp hosts at least 50,000 people, with the numbers fluctuating since the arrival of the first group at the start of the civil war in 2013.
The Minister of Information for Upper Nile State, Louk Saadallah, mentioned that the numbers have increased after around 3,000 people fled the fighting in neighboring Sudan to the camp in recent weeks.
### Peace Agreement
The peace agreement signed in 2018 by the main parties involved in the civil war, which lasted from 2013 to 2018, led to a significant reduction in violence in South Sudan in recent years. However, limited clashes continue to occur between competing factions. Violence remains prevalent in areas affected by disputes over grazing rights, water, agricultural land, and other resources.
In recent months, Upper Nile State has witnessed violence primarily driven by armed militias. In December, 166 people were killed, most of them civilians, and more than 20,000 others were displaced in the region, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Fighting in the Malakal camp in 2016 resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, including two from Doctors Without Borders.
