Authority in South Sudan’s Lol State on Friday accused rebels linked to the country's former deputy president Riek Machar of abducting 15 youth during an attack on Diem Zuber on 9 February.

Omar Isahaq, minister of information, told Radio Tamazuj that the rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), abducted 15 civilians in the area of Diem-Zuber on Thursday evening.

He said the whereabouts of the captives are unknown and that the motive for their abduction remains unclear.

He accused the opposition of trying to spoil the ongoing peace talks in Addis Ababa.

Rebel officials in the area could not immediately be reached to comment on Omar’s claims.