President Salva Kiir’s
Ceasefire order Monday evening was followed by a similar call from ex-rebel and
Vice President Riek Machar, raising hopes of an end to three days of deadly
fighting between the army and former rebels in the world’s youngest nation.
South Sudan’s president
and his estranged deputy ordered a ceasefire Monday after a new day of heavy fighting
in the capital that sent thousands fleeing and threatened a return to civil
war.
“The president has
reiterated his commitment to the continued implementation of the (peace)
agreement in letter and spirit, and thus issues an order of cessation of
hostilities with immediate effect,” Information Minister Michael Makuei said on
state television at 6:00 pm local time (1500 GMT).
Machar, a former rebel,
then asked troops loyal to him to stop fighting.
“I inform all troops
who have been fighting and have been defending themselves that they should
observe the ceasefire and stay in position,” Machar said on Eye Radio Juba.
UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon meanwhile called for an immediate arms embargo against South Sudan
and also appealed to the UN Security Council for targeted sanctions against
those involved in the fighting.
The UN mission in South
Sudan (UNMISS) should also be strengthened with attack helicopters, Ban said.
UNMISS said “more than
7,000 people” had sought shelter at two compounds it runs for the displaced in
Juba, while fighting was also reported in the south-eastern town of Torit where
thousands fled to a UN base.
Machar, a former rebel,
then asked troops loyal to him to stop fighting.
"I inform all
troops who have been fighting and have been defending themselves that they
should observe the ceasefire and stay in position," Machar said on Eye
Radio Juba.
UN Secretary General Ban
Ki-moon meanwhile called for an immediate arms embargo against South Sudan and
also appealed to the UN Security Council for targeted sanctions against those
involved in the fighting. The UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) should also be
strengthened with attack helicopters, Ban said.
Eight people have been
killed and 67 injured at the UN’s so-called “Protection of Civilian” sites in
Juba since Sunday.
“UNMISS compounds are
caught directly between the fighting and continue to sustain impacts from small
arms and heavy weapons fire,” it said in a statement.
Intense battles were
fought Monday with tanks and helicopter gunships deployed and artillery and
mortar fire heard in parts of the city.
Witnesses reported
“very, very heavy fighting” in Juba with residents barricading themselves
inside houses and aid workers holed up in bunkers. The US embassy warned of
“serious fighting between government and opposition forces”.
The only civilians on
the streets scurried for shelter during lulls in fighting.
The United States also
condemned the violence, with National Security Advisor Susan Rice calling it
“senseless and inexcusable”.
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