Terrorists have attacked a village in South Sudan, killing at least 169 people

At least 169 people have been killed after rebels stormed a village in a remote area of ​​South Sudan, a local official said on Monday. The latest violence has left the country on the brink of civil war.

The victims, including 90 civilians, were attacked on Sunday in Abiemnom district, said James Monyluak, minister of information in Ruweng district. He said that among the dead were women and children, apart from a large number of people fighting.

The UN mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, said in a statement that 1,000 people sought refuge in its base after the attack.

“This kind of violence puts civilians at great risk and must end immediately,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, the head of UNMISS in a statement. “I urge all parties involved to stop fighting without delay and engage in constructive discussions to resolve their grievances.”

“Our peacekeepers will continue to do their best to protect the civilians who are taking refuge in our area,” he added.

The UNMISS statement revealed 23 casualties during the attack in Ruweng, and expressed concern over “reports indicating that a number of people and some local officials have lost their lives.”

On Monday, UNMISS said its troops maintained peace throughout the night in the area, “preventing crimes and protecting civilians, demonstrating their commitment to the people of South Sudan.”

“When I joined the army to serve my country, I did not realize that I would end up providing security to citizens of other countries,” said Lance Corporal Amenuvor Mabel of the Ghana Battalion, who led the night convoy, in a statement. “I’m glad we’re serving people and making them feel safe.”

The killings are part of the ongoing violence in South Sudan as government forces loyal to President Salva Kiir battle armed men believed to be loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar.

Stephano Wieu De Mialek, the chief administrator of the Ruweng Administrative Area, said on Sunday the attack was carried out by soldiers allied with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition of Machar. Wieu described the attack as a planned and organized attack, calling it an act of rebellion.

In a statement, Machar’s team denied involvement in the attack and said “there are no soldiers in the affected area.”

Machar was Kiir’s deputy until September, when he was removed after facing criminal charges. He is under house arrest in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, as his trial continues.

US urges talks between Kiir and Machar.

The ongoing violence threatens the fragile peace that was achieved in 2018 after a five-year civil war. After that agreement, Machar was appointed as the first vice president of South Sudan in the government of national unity. A UN investigation found that South Sudan’s leaders “systematically violated” that agreement.

Machar’s supporters say the charges brought against him for the alleged coup are politically motivated. His removal from office coincided with an increase in violence.

The conflict escalated in December when opposition forces seized government facilities in Jonglei district, a stronghold of the opposition and renewed fighting that the UN estimates displaced 280,000 people.

In December, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS News that what is happening in Sudan is the “biggest disaster” the organization has seen.

“The challenges are really amazing,” she told CBS News’ Margaret Brennan.

Aid groups have warned that restrictions on access to opposition-held areas are putting people’s lives at risk.

The government has waged a controversial war since January with air strikes and ground attacks, despite an official commitment to a peace accord.