Former South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar has called for a ceasefire shortly after the country’s president ordered the army to cease hostilities.
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A spokesman for president Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar had met and “talked about controlling their forces in an attempt to salvage what has remained of the peace agreement” on Monday evening (July 11). The council’s 15 members demanded that Kiir and Machar “genuinely commit themselves to the full and immediate implementation of the peace agreement, including the permanent ceasefire and redeployment of military forces from Juba”.
“For peace to stand a chance, the UN Security Council must ensure that all countries halt any further flow of weapons into South Sudan by immediately imposing a comprehensive arms embargo”. It also called for additional peacekeepers to be sent to South Sudan.
Tensions have been high since April, when Mr Machar returned to Juba under a peace deal following a two-year civil war.
U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Bob Godec yesterday said a regional force may need to deployed to stabilize South Sudan.
Aid groups are warning about the lack of clean water for the tens of thousands of people sheltering in various sites around Juba as water tankers have not been able to make deliveries.
Two Chinese peacekeepers were killed and several Rwandan troops injured in the past days. A day later, as Kiir and Machar met at the presidential compound about the incident, heavy gunfire erupted outside and soon spread to other parts of the capital city.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs says the violence in South Sudan “is deplorable” and “a betrayal of the people of the country”.
Two UN compounds in Juba have been caught in cross-fire and sustained mortar and heavy artillery fire.
She also called for accountability for those perpetrating attacks against civilians and United Nations premises and peacekeepers.
On Saturday, South Sudan marked its fifth anniversary since independence. The war was fought broadly between South Sudan’s biggest ethnic groups – the Dinka, led by Mr Kiir, and the Nuer, under Mr Machar.
Media captionWhat’s happening in South Sudan?
“Two government helicopters have been bombing areas near the base while ground forces shell the base, including a camp of tens of thousands of displaced civilians, according to a source within the United Nations compound, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press”.
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Asserting that security of Indians in Sudan is of paramount importance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that India has formed a task force to take stock of situation there.
