5 soldiers, 4 civilians killed in clash between South Sudan army, rebels

The Military on Monday said nine people, including five soldiers and four civilians, were killed when South Sudan’s army clashed with rebel forces.

Rebels linked to exiled former vice president Riek Machar attacked military positions in the north-western Equatoria region over the weekend, army spokesman Lul Koang told journalists in the capital, Juba.

“Among the nine people killed, five are soldiers and four are civilians who were caught in the cross fire,” said Koang.

South Sudan is in its fifth year of civil war despite the signing of a ceasefire agreement in December.

The conflict, sparked by a 2013 split between President Salva Kiir and Machar, his former deputy, has led to tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of 2.5 million people.