More than 100 South Sudanese fighters loyal to sacked first vice president Riek Machar have been found “in extremely bad shape” by the UN in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The fighters were discovered near the border and have been evacuated by helicopter to receive medical treatment.
In July, fighting erupted in Juba between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to Riek Machar, killing close to 300 people and forcing thousands others to flee to neighbouring countries.
Following this incident, Riek Machar led his troops out of the capital, but was sacked and replaced as first vice president.
Last month a wounded Machar was reportedly evacuated from the DR Congo. He then went to Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, to receive medical treatment.
South Sudan went to war in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused Riek Machar, his then deputy, of plotting to stage a coup against his government.
Machar refuted the claims but went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The rebel leader returned to Juba in April to take up the position of first vice president under Kiir in a UN-backed peace deal. This agreement has however continually been broken.
