South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (L), flanked by African Union special envoy and former Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare (R), talks to the media on July 14, 2016 at the presidential palace in Juba.
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The ceasefire took effect from 6 pm on Monday and any member of the Machar-led forces who surrendered must also be protected, Makuei said.
Ann Encontre, a United Nations refugee coordinator in South Sudan, said on Friday there was concern about fresh outflows of refugees following clashes in the capital Juba, and appealed for $701 million in relief aid.
After South Sudan gained independence, tensions continued with its neighbor to the north, but armed militia groups and tribal conflict within its own borders also posed a security risk.
“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.
While the situation remained calm in Juba on Thursday concerns remain that fighting might flare once again.
He denied reports that Machar was returning to the bush in the same way he did in December 2013 when he was chased out of Juba by President Kiir’s forces.
He has told the UN Security Council the violence does not represent the end of the Transitional Government of National Unity, formed less than three months ago. “Around half the population has been forced to leave their homes”, said Florence Mawanda, director of the Tearfund NGO, an aid-worker organization in Juba. The conflict degenerated into ethnic violence involving Kiir’s Dinka tribe and Machar’s tribe, the Nuer.
President Kiir directed all commanders to cease all hostilities, control their forces and protect civilians, information minister Michael Makuei said in a televised speech on the state broadcaster SSTV.
“Further clashes, therefore, can not be ruled out”, he said.
This week, Kiir fired another dissident politician, Cireno Hiteng, who was deputy foreign affairs minister.
Outside Juba there were reports of fighting in the towns of Leer in Unity State and Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal and of army and rebel forces mobilising around Malakal in Upper Nile.
“He’s trying to survive”.
“We remain very anxious about the potential for the resumption of violence and spillover into other parts of the country”, said Ladsous.
But President Kiir says greater worldwide intervention is not welcome.
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“I want Dr Riek Machar, the first vice president of the republic, to be near me, so we can chart the way forward”. The Swiss foreign ministry has repeatedy urged Swiss nationals to leave the country and has discouraged trips there since 2013.
