The United Nations has expressed concern over the conflict in South Sudan.

The UN has expressed alarm about renewed bloodshed in South Sudan between the army and rebel forces.

There are concerns that conflicts between forces loyal to the two factions in the unity government may jeopardize the fragile peace agreement and election scheduled for next year.

In numerous locations of the northern oil-producing state of Upper Nile, combat broke out on Thursday between the military and the armed wing of the main opposition SPLM-IO party.

Opposition forces attacked army posts in Longichuk and Malual Gathoth, according to an army spokeswoman. The SPLM-IO claims to have been attacked.

The SPLM-IO, led by Deputy President Riek Machar, withdrew from the country's peace monitoring organization on Monday, citing unprovoked attacks as the reason.

That decision, according to Nicholas Hysom, the director of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), is profoundly concerning.

With less than a year left in the transitional period, all parties must continue to make their best efforts to maintain the ceasefire and work toward completing all outstanding milestones to have free and fair elections.
With less than a year left in the transitional period, all parties must maintain the ceasefire and work toward completing all outstanding milestones so that free and fair elections may be held.

There is no military solution to the South Sudanese crisis. In the wider interests of peace, growth, and prosperity, I encourage all political parties to set their differences aside."

When President Salva Kiir and Mr. Machar fell out in 2013, a civil war erupted in South Sudan, resulting in a terrible conflict that displaced over four million people.