“Requesting the minister, Akshay wrote, “@SushmaSwaraj Ma’am request for speedy measures and actions to evacuate Indians stranded in Sudan.
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The government later said more than 250 people died in Juba that day, the majority being opposition soldiers who support Machar.
Fighting also occurred in Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria states on July 11, Ladsous said, expressing concern over the potential for bloodshed in other parts of the country.
The Ugandan army joined the conflict in South Sudan soon after it began in December 2013, fighting on the side of President Salva Kiir against a rebel force led by Riek Machar, now the country’s vice president. Civil war broke out in 2013 a few months after Kiir sacked Machar as his deputy.
Aid workers from different Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan arrive at Wilson airport in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from Juba. On Wednesday, Mr. Machar withdrew his troops from Juba; a cease-fire appears to be holding for now.
At least 272 people have been killed during three days of fighting in the capital but Ladsous said the death toll was “only the tip of the iceberg” because many civilians were prevented from reaching safe ground.
The ceasefire announcement came as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on the Security Council to impose an “immediate arms embargo” and targeted sanctions on leaders and commanders blocking implementation of the peace deal.
Meanwhile Germany and Italy said they were evacuating their nationals and other foreigners, although commercial flights were not expected to resume until Thursday.
However, the evacuation exercise faced a hurdle as many Indians, who had registered with the External Affairs Ministry for leaving South Sudan, refused to return, despite an appeal by Minister Sushma Swaraj on Twitter asking them to move out.
But the United Nations has said more than 40,000 fled their homes in the latest fighting to seek shelter at United Nations and other sites in Juba.
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.
“We call on you to engage all parties to the agreement to double their efforts to implement this agreement to allow the people of South Sudan to start building a better future”.
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The US military in Africa said it has sent 40 additional soldiers to Juba to help secure American personnel and facilities in the war-torn city, Fox News reported on Wednesday.
