Sudan has joined the many countries evacuating their nationals from their breakaway neighbours South Sudan, which has faced deadly clashes last week between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former rebels of Vice President Riek Machar.
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South Sudan’s civil war exposed deep ethnic fault lines in the country, pitting the Dinka supporters of Kiir against the Nuer followers of Machar. Decisive action must be taken to end the suffering of the people of South Sudan.
I now call on President Kiir and First Vice-President Machar to ensure all their troops abide by this ceasefire and refrain from further violence.
The chief executive of one oil company defending its operating title in the territory criticised the USA for not listening to all sides, but said peace efforts remain salvagable “if efforts are made to reach a wider ethnic consensus”. At the event in Washington, the new round of violence went unmentioned.
There is fury in NY at the blatant disregard shown for the safety of civilians and the UN.
Tens of thousands of people fled their homes to United Nations bases and other sites, but others were leaving the country, scared that the fighting would once again spark ethnic violence.
The latest fighting in Juba is a major setback to the peace process. South Sudan is now in its wet season, which should last for another two months. “It is absolutely critical that both parties to the conflict do not obstruct safe passage of civilians fleeing to places of refuge both inside and outside of the country”.
“Following the temporary opening of the Juba airport on Tuesday, a number of countries and organizations have flown their staff and citizens here for security reasons”, said Mugume. “The mission reports that its peacekeepers continue to undertake limited patrols as well as strengthening security at the outer perimeter of the protection of civilian sites”.
Accountability for those responsible for attacks on civilians and the UN. The UN secretary-general has called for sanctions and the United States has expressed determination that appropriate measures should be taken to ensure accountability.
NGOs and United Nations organizations wishing to make use of the service have been asked to send the airline a list of staffs whom they want to evacuate.
A civil war first broke out between the two groups in 2013. It is a pity that an earlier version of the peace agreement which would have put Juba under the control of a third force was watered down in the face of government resistance. On Wednesday, Mr. Machar withdrew his troops from Juba; a cease-fire appears to be holding for now. No one can say how many remained, but when I was there central parts of the city were still empty, and burned-down huts and rusted furniture lined the main thoroughfare.
The United Nations has warned of tension and the possibility of fresh fighting in Juba, where a ceasefire has held since late Monday. Kiir has assured the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission that he still wants to implement the peace agreement.
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President Salva Kiir on Thursday called on arch-rival Riek Machar to meet for talks to salvage peace.
