More than 150 soldiers died in fighting between South Sudan’s army and former rebels in the capital Juba on Friday evening, a spokesman for the former rebels said.
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The doctor said a total count of the dead was not available because soldiers were not allowing doctors to examine the bodies, but he said the morgue is full at Juba Teaching Hospital.
Kiir and Machar described Friday’s violence as “unfortunate”. Both insisted on speaking on condition of anonymity because of fears for their safety.
Scores have reportedly been killed in the fighting, with worldwide news outlets reporting that the violence broke out in the Presidential Palace in Juba while President Kiir and vice president Riek Machar, former rivals, were meeting for talks.
Kiir and Machar called for calm on Friday at the State House, where the rivals had been in talks when the fighting flared on Thursday between groups loyal to each of them.
First Vice President Riek Machar, left, delivers a speech to journalists next to South Sudan President Salva Kiir, centre, and Vice President James Wani Igga, right, prior to the shooting outside the presidential palace in Juba on July 8, 2016.
The people of South Sudan deserve peace and security after so many years of conflict. However, these actions are not yet successful.
Some worldwide groups like the global Monetary Fund were evacuating their staff from the country. “South Sudanese should not lose hope because South Sudan will be okay one day”, he added. “All of them are gunshot”, Chol said. Another UN spokesperson, Shantal Persaud, said one death had been reported inside the base.
In a statement later Saturday, the mission said it was “outraged” by the heavy fighting near the United Nations compound and that “several rounds” had hit buildings inside it.
“This outbreak of hostilities in the capital, on the eve of the country’s fifth anniversary of independence, is yet another illustration of the parties’ lack of serious commitment to the peace process and represents a new betrayal of the people of South Sudan, who have suffered from unfathomable atrocities since December 2013”, he said.
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The latest violence began Thursday night with shooting between opposing army factions who are supposed to be carrying out joint patrols under a fragile peace deal reached past year.
