The South Sudanese government has said approximately 9,000 people have crossed the border since the conflict in neighbouring Sudan began 10 days ago.

According to Foreign Minister Deng Dau Deng, the majority of the arrivals – approximately 6,000 people – were returning home.

Around 3,000 of the new arrivals are a mix of Sudanese and people from other countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.

President Salva Kiir, according to Deng, has spoken with both army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Sudan granted South Sudan independence 12 years ago. Sudan has a sizable South Sudanese population, and oil from South Sudan travels through Sudanese territory to reach Port Sudan.