Overview

• Recent airstrikes near Juba targeted a Machar-allied military base, with opposition leaders calling the attack a violation of the 2018 peace deal.
• Government forces and the White Army militia, allied with Machar, continue to clash in Upper Nile State, displacing 63,000 people and causing significant civilian casualties.
• The United Nations has warned of rising ethnic divisions fueled by hate speech and disinformation, exacerbating tensions across the country.
• Machar's party claims 22 political and military members, including high-ranking officials, have been detained by the government since February.
• The United States has urged direct dialogue between Kiir and Machar to prevent further escalation, as South Sudan faces its worst cholera outbreak since independence, with nearly 700 deaths reported.