At least four soldiers and 10 militia fighters were killed in clashes in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, the military said on Tuesday, in the same region where earlier violence led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.

Machar, a longtime rival of President Salva Kiir, was detained in March, sparking international appeals for calm and raising fears of a return to civil war between Kiir’s Dinka forces and Nuer fighters loyal to Machar.

According to army spokesperson Garang Ateny, fighters from the so-called White Army militia launched three attacks on military positions near Nasir town on Monday. He confirmed four soldiers were killed while 10 militia members died in the fighting.

The White Army is alleged by Machar’s opponents to be linked to his SPLM-IO party, though both Machar and the group deny any current association. Spokespeople for the SPLM-IO and the militia could not be reached for comment.

Kiir and Machar have shared power under a fragile unity government since a 2018 peace deal ended a devastating civil war that left hundreds of thousands dead. Machar’s detention earlier this year, over accusations of backing the White Army to incite rebellion, has reignited concerns of renewed ethnic conflict in the country.

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