The peace deal signed by South Sudanese leaders President Salva Kiir and Dr Riek Machar in Addis Abada, Ethiopia, Friday has been broken. Both sides are blaming the other.
The agreement came at the urging of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who visited South Sudan Friday and spoke to the two warring leaders. Pressure has also begun to build on South Sudanese leaders due to the beginnings of American sanctions, which targeted generals of both sides of the conflict.
The peace deal was broken just hours after its coming into force. Several attacks took place Sunday morning in South Sudan. The two leaders blamed each other.
“This morning at 6:30 AM Riek Machar forces attacked our forces at Rubkona in Unity State,” said Kiir. “They attacked our forces and we repulsed them and they ran away left dead bodies down there that was one case. When it reached 8:20 AM this morning, Riek Machar forces attacked our base at Kilo-Kamsin east of Bentiu capital of Unity State. They fought and they were also repulsed. The same morning at 9:00 AM, they attacked our forces at Mathiang north- east of Nassir. All in all, they were beaten back and they ran away.”
The opposition reported that it was in fact the government who initiated the fighting. Military spokesman Brigadier-General Lul Ruai Koang said that government forces launched attacks on their bases in Unity State and Upper Nile State hours after the ceasefire.
By Day Blakely Donaldson
Source:
Eye Radio, South Sudan