Clashes between local rival groups in the Abyei region on the South Sudan border has allegedly resulted in the tragic death of a Ghanaian United Nations (UN) peacekeeper, according to a statement by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

The incidents occurred in three locations within the Abyei area on Saturday, causing casualties and leading to the evacuation of civilians to UNISFA bases for safety amid the violence.

During the fighting, one UNISFA base came under attack and although the attack was repelled “tragically a Ghanaian peacekeeper was killed during the incident,” the statement said.

The UN mission is currently in the process of verifying the extent of the impact, including the number of casualties, injuries, and displaced individuals.

Frequent clashes between various communities are common in South Sudan, stemming from the aftermath of a devastating war involving the country's leader, Salva Kiir, and his former deputy, Riek Machar, in a conflict between rival tribes. The statement, however, did not specify which tribes were involved in Saturday's clashes.

The Abyei region, known for its oil resources, grapples with recurring episodes of violence, primarily due to a dispute over the administrative boundary among rival factions of the Dinka ethnic group. The ownership of Abyei itself is contested between Sudan and South Sudan, with the latter declaring independence from Sudan in 2011.