Forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and ex-rebel troops of Vice President Riek Machar have been fighting since July 8, 2016.

Heavy gunfire was reported on Sunday, July 10, 2016 in the Gudele and Jebel suburbs of the South Sudanese capital, Juba near the military barracks occupied by troops loyal to the present Vice President and former rebel leader, Riek Machar. UN representatives reported heavy exchanges of gunfire near their headquarters in the suburb of Jebel, BBC said.

The gunfire was the continuation of fighting that erupted in Juba on the eve of the anniversary of five years of the independence of South Sudan from Sudan on July 8, 2011. BBC cited forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar as saying that their positions in the capital have been attacked by government troops.

There are varying figures on the dead toll from the over three-day fighting with RFI reporting sources at Riek Machar’s office as talking of more than 150 dead. BBC cited other reports of that talks of more than 250 people killed and BBC’s South Sudanese journalists cited some reporters of having counted at least 100 bodies on Saturday inside and outside the presidential palace’s compound.

The resurgence of fighting comes to raise fears of renewed instability in the country. Hopes have been high of  a return to peace from the civil war that broke out in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir sacked the cabinet and accused Vice President Riek Machar of planning a coup. The two rivals on August 2015 signed a peace deal spelling out all modalities of a return to peace and stability.  Riek Machar returned to South Sudan in April 2016 and took up his job as First Vice President in a unity government led by President Salva Kiir.