South Sudan Clashes Leave 24 Dead in Two Attacks, Military Says

(Bloomberg) -- At least 24 fighters died in South Sudan in two separate clashes between the military and fighters loyal to rebel chief Riek Machar.

Soldiers repulsed an attack in Leer, capital of the Southern Liech state in the oil-rich northern part of the country, killing 21 rebel fighters, army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said by text on Friday. Two government soldiers also died in the attack, Koang said.

Another soldier was killed in a second attack outside the capital, Juba, when rebels attacked a local government official’s convoy, he said.

A civil war that began in South Sudan in December 2013 has left tens of thousands of people dead, with a peace agreement that saw Machar join a transitional government thrown into turmoil in July, when renewed violence forced him from the capital.

To contact the reporter on this story: Okech Francis in Juba at fokech@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andre Janse van Vuuren at ajansevanvuu@bloomberg.net.