South Sudan
Fighting has erupted in South Sudan between two factions of the SPLA-IO party, according to a spokesman for the country’s Vice President Riek Machar, who was yesterday reported to have been deposed as its leader. Machar’s supporters, though, say there was a “failed coup” and that he is still in control. South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has been beset with violence for most of its 10-year existence.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Afghanistan
The Taliban has taken control of a second regional capital in two days, dealing a huge blow to the Afghan government in Kabul. The group has been riding high on a rapid advance in recent weeks, capturing almost half of the country’s territory and circling key cities. US and NATO troops are due to withdraw by the end of the month.
More from BBC here.
Ethiopia
Six more bodies have been found floating down a river that separates Ethiopia from Sudan, refugees and a doctor told the Associated Press News Agency. About 50 bodies have been found in the river over the last two weeks, some with bound hands and others appearing to have been mutilated. Ethiopian government forces and their allies have been accused of atrocities and ethnic cleansing during a nine-month old conflict that has driven hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of starvation.
More from the Associated Press here.