White Army retreats from South Sudan as deadline for senior-level meeting nears

As South Sudan enters its third week of violent crisis and tensions continue to rise between two prominent tribes following an alleged coup attempt, an ethnic militia comprised of Nuer members known as the White Army is retreating from the South Sudanese city of Bor.

Approximately 20,000 White Army members were headed to Bor when South Sudanese government officials persuaded the militia to retreat.

The White Army is loyal to ousted former Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer who was accused by President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, of attempting to launch a coup in mid-December. Violence broke out after the failed coup, resulting in what the U.N. assessed as the death of "thousands" and the displacement of 180,000.

President Kiir and his former vice president were given a December 31 deadline to hold face-to-face talks. The deadline was set by the African leaders from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, who held a summit on Friday. If they fail to meet, IGAD said it would take unspecified "further action."

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