Approximately 600 prisoners escaped from a military barracks in South Sudan's capital, Juba, on Wednesday morning, causing a major security incident in the city.

Approximately 600 prisoners escaped from a military barracks in South Sudan's capital, Juba, on Wednesday morning, prompting soldiers to fire warning shots into the air to deter the escapees.

The prisoners were being held in connection with recent retaliatory attacks targeting Sudanese nationals in South Sudan. These incidents follow a wave of violence and looting in the country, sparked by protests over the alleged killing of South Sudanese nationals in neighboring Sudan.

The Sudanese army, accused by rights groups of deadly attacks on both locals and foreigners, announced it was investigating the allegations.

'Most of the escapees rearrested'

At approximately 9:30 a.m. local time (0730 GMT) on Wednesday, 550 civilians and 50 law enforcement officers detained at the Giada military barracks in Juba for their alleged involvement in last week's retaliatory attacks managed to escape the facility.

Soldiers at the barracks fired warning shots into the air to prevent further escapes.

Speaking to journalists in Juba on Wednesday, South Sudan's Police Spokesperson Colonel John Kassara Nhilal confirmed that efforts to recapture the escapees were underway, with "most of them" already back in custody.

Authorities reported that 410 escapees had been rearrested, while 190 remained at large.

In response to the incident, South Sudan has cordoned off the Giada military barracks and heightened patrols throughout Juba.