JUBA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Fresh clashes have erupted between two rival South Sudanese rebel groups in the northern part of the country, threatening a recent peace deal that seeks to end a five-year-old brutal civil war.
Renewed fighting was reported to have begun early this week between rival forces of the South Sudan United Movement (SSUM)/Army commanded by renegade Peter Gadet and the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by former deputy president Riek Machar, violating a ceasefire agreement they had signed.
Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA- IO deputy military spokesman, alleged that fighting started Tuesday after Gadet's forces attacked an SPLA-IO base killing one civilian and injuring two soldiers.
The incident happened when SSUM forces came in the early hours of December 11 and attacked the SPLA-IO base of Abukitmalang, wounding two SPLA-IO officers and also killing one woman (civilian) in the process, Gabriel said in a statement.
"The SPLA-IO therefore, calls upon the CTSAMM (Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism) and UNMISS (UN mission in South Sudan) to conduct a quick and thorough investigation on this direct violation of permanent ceasefire and hold those responsible accountable," Gabriel said.
South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.
The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 collapsed following renewed violence in the capital, Juba in July 2016.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, his former deputy and arch rival Riek Machar and several opposition groups early September signed a new power-sharing deal aimed at ending the five-year old conflict.
Under the deal, Machar will be reinstated as Kiir's deputy.
