Army says at least 14 soldiers killed in ‘love triangle’ that has turned deadly in South Sudan

At least 14 soldiers were killed and several others were injured South Sudan A suspected “love triangle” dispute led to a deadly shootout, the military said on Wednesday.

A clash broke out between members of the Unified VIP Protection Force, which includes government forces and opposition fighters, on Monday in a market near the oil-rich Abyei region, which straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

A fragile power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and his longtime rival Riek Machar collapsed months ago, threatening to plunge the young country back into a civil war that left 400,000 people dead in the 2000s.

Last month, Machar was charged with murder, treason and crimes against humanity, and was stripped of his position as first vice president in the unity government, raising fears of renewed tensions. Machar’s spokesman condemned the move, describing it as a “political witch hunt.” BBC News reported.

according to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces Government spokesman Lul Ruai Quang said the dispute began on Monday between two officers, one pro-Machar and the other pro-Kiir.

“There are two conflicting versions regarding the cause of the crisis: the first version says that it was a purely personal misunderstanding between the two officers in a cafe, and the other says that it was a love triangle,” Quang told reporters during a press conference at the army headquarters in the capital, Juba.

He added: “The two men reportedly quarreled after they were reported to be in a romantic relationship with the same lady.”

The situation escalated when an officer allied with Machar shot his counterpart allied with Kiir, prompting their bodyguards to open fire.

Violence then erupted from the market and spread to the main checkpoints and barracks, Quang said.

“14 soldiers were killed: six from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (Machar’s party) and eight from the Socialist People’s Defense Forces,” Koang confirmed.

It was reported that one civilian was caught in the crossfire and his condition has not yet been confirmed, while five soldiers were injured and are receiving treatment.

Quang said the incident had no “political motives” but confirmed that an investigation had been opened.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned last month that South Sudan was on the brink of renewed war, with nearly 2,000 civilians killed in escalating violence this year.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011, but quickly fell into a five-year civil war.

A 2018 peace agreement ended the fighting, but leaders have repeatedly failed to hold elections or unify their armed forces. The United Nations, the African Union and neighboring countries call for calm in the world’s newest country BBC News reported.

An international ceasefire monitor said on Tuesday that parties to the faltering peace agreement in South Sudan have recruited new fighters and kidnapped children to participate in the conflict. A statement on Tuesday from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (RJMEC) said that South Sudan’s army in June began a recruitment drive for 4,000 soldiers for peacekeeping and other purposes, and that it opened a new training center in August.

A statement read by Anita Kiki Gbeho, the second-highest UN official in the country, said civilian casualties resulting from the conflict between January and September rose by 59% compared to the same period in 2024.

She added that nearly 321,000 people were displaced due to the fighting, and incidents affecting humanitarian access doubled compared to the previous year.

Earlier this year, I ordered the United States Immediate departure of non-essential staff from the capital of South Sudan, due to increased crime, kidnapping and armed conflict.

Associated Press

She contributed to this report.