AFRICOM has reportedly been concerned by the unrest in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, which the Obama administration helped midwife.
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Meanwhile, Operation Sankat Mochan is in full swing as the rescue team headed by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh landed here and the process for the evacuation of the stranded Indians began.
A United Nations peacekeeping mission had more than 13,000 troops and police in South Sudan as of the end of March, but the force has come under criticism for hesitating to protect civilians, with deadly results.
This time, Uganda said its troops, who witnesses said entered South Sudan in trucks and armoured vehicles, would stay in a town outside Juba and focus on evacuations. On Thursday, President Kiir urged for calm as fighting continued outside the capital Juba.
The South Sudan conflict is because of clashes between government troops and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar.
“In addition to providing food assistance to displaced people in Juba, which is our normal role, WFP has also sheltered some 3, 000 people in our main office compound, mostly women and children who fled for their lives as fighting raged around us”, said Luma.
Thousands of South Sudanese people have reportedly gathered at the country’s southern border seeking to enter into Uganda, but they are also being prevented from crossing over.
But there are new reports that South Sudan authorities are blocking some citizens, including those with US or Canadian dual nationality, from leaving the country.
“We all hope the ceasefire will hold…” The two key rivals, President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar, were both at a press conference when fighting broke out on July 8th.
The fighting has raised fears of a return to the civil war that erupted in late 2013 and broadly ran along ethnic lines, pitting Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, against Machar, a Nuer.
“The UN mission, as well as other UN agencies, funds and programs are preparing for the temporary relocation of non-critical staff from Juba”, said Dujarric, adding that they would likely be moved to Nairobi, though he did not have any figures.
“It is with grave concern that we start this Council, as over the past few days we see the resurgence of the conflict in South Sudan, after more than two years of talks”, said Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairperson of the AU Commission in her opening remarks for the summit.
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Both Kiir and Machar earlier this week declared a ceasefire, but observers have warned that the violence could return.
