South Sudan, Afghanistan, Rwanda

Today's three stories you should know

South Sudan

At least 169 people were killed, including 90 civilians, when fighters overran a remote village in South Sudan as the country teeters on the brink of all-out civil war. Women and children were among the civilians killed, alongside scores of combatants, local government spokesman James Monyluak said. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country said in a statement that 1,000 people sought refuge at one of its bases after the attack. The killings are the latest in a spate of violence as the forces of President Salva Kiir face off with fighters loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar. South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, has been beset by conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

More from AP here.

Afghanistan

Sixty-seven Afghan troops have been killed by Pakistani forces, according to officials in Islamabad, as fighting between the allies-turned-foes entered a fifth day. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied that figure, saying they had repelled Pakistani attacks and killed four Pakistani soldiers. Both sides have made competing claims about casualty numbers since Taliban fighters began launching cross-border attacks on Thursday in retaliation for air strikes on the Afghan capital Kabul. Tensions have escalated since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, with Islamabad accusing it of sheltering Pakistani rebels.

More from TRT World here.

Rwanda

The U.S. has sanctioned the Rwandan military and several of its leaders over their involvement in the conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rwanda, though it officially denies it, is widely believed to be supporting the M23 rebel group in its battle with Congolese forces. The M23 now controls more territory in the mineral-rich eastern DRC than ever before and seized the city of Uvira just days after Rwanda and Congo signed a peace deal at the White House, which had been heralded by U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington appears keen to counter China’s dominant position in the mineral trade in a region with the world's largest cobalt supply as well as rich copper and lithium reserves.

More from Reuters here.