South Sudan imposed a curfew overnight on Friday after Sudanese businesses and refugees in several urban centres, including the capital, Juba, were subjected to retaliatory attacks linked to the deaths of South Sudanese people in Sudan earlier in the week.

At least three South Sudanese men have been killed while security forces attempted to disperse the attackers, a police spokesman told Middle East Eye.

The attacks followed the alleged killing of 29 South Sudanese people by Sudan’s army or allied groups during the capture of Wad Madani city from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Machete and club-wielding young men began the attacks on the evening of 16 January across several parts of Juba, including Hai Thoura, Gumbo Sherikat, Hai Jebel, Mia Saba, Hai Referendum, and Gudele suburbs, among others, breaking into shops belonging to Sudanese, entering their homes and beating them up. The youths said the attacks were retaliation for the violence in Wad Madani.

The nightlong attacks also occurred in other towns, including in Aweil of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, which is host to Sudanese refugees in Wadwiel refugee camp, and Kuacjok, the capital of Warrap State.