On July 11, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir ordered a ceasefire after days of heavy fighting between government troops and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar.
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One of the dual citizens said that if they are allowed to leave as US citizens, the authorities confiscate their South Sudanese passports.
After an outbreak of deadly violence between rival troops in South Sudan’s capital Juba in the past week, IGAD demanded the creation of an intervention brigade, similar to a United Nations combat force in Democratic Republic of Congo that is mandated to enforce peace by targeting and neutralizing armed rebel groups.
While the situation remained calm in Juba on Thursday concerns remain that fighting might flare once again.
But the situation remains precarious, United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous told the Security Council.
He called for Machar to meet him for talks to save the peace deal but acknowledged the deep mistrust that led to days of intense fighting that has left hundreds dead.
Machar’s spokesman said Wednesday the vice president has withdrawn with his troops to outside of Juba but is not planning for war.
Indian nationals arrive from South Sudan’s capital Juba at Entebbe International Airport, about 42 kilometers east of capital Kampala, Uganda, Thursday.
This week, Kiir fired another dissident politician, Cireno Hiteng, who was deputy foreign affairs minister.
The worldwide community has devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to help South Sudanese civilians caught in the crossfire, erecting makeshift camps across the country to shelter a growing number of displaced families.
Machar’s return with a 1,400-strong bodyguard meant there were two hostile armies in the city.
“We remain very anxious about the potential for the resumption of violence and spill-over into other parts of the country”, said Ladsous.
“The current situation in the country remains fluid and uncertain”, said Ladsous in his briefing to the Security Council on the activities of the UN Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), whose mandate will expire on 31 July. Italy’s foreign ministry said air force aircraft landed Wednesday in Juba to evacuate 30 Italians.
Apart from the civilians, around 2,500 Indians are deployed with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
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No gunfire or artillery was heard in Juba and planes were seen leaving the worldwide airport although commercial flights are yet to resume.
