South Sudan President Salva Kiir has called for a halt to fighting between forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar and a splinter group that threatens the country's fragile peace process.
Clashes broke out earlier this month in the Upper Nile region between Machar loyalists and supporters of Lieutenant General Simon Gatwech Dual after Gatwech tried to replace Machar as the head of their party.Civil war broke out in South Sudan two years after independence in 2011 when forces loyal to Kiir and Machar clashed in the capital. It killed 400,000 people and led to a major refugee crisis before a peace accord was reached in 2018.
Kiir's office said in a statement: "The Presidency strongly directs for the immediate cessation of hostilities between the ... forces under the command of Dr Riek Machar Teny, and the breakaway ... forces under the command of General Simon Gatwech Dual." A spokesperson for Machar, Lam Paul Gabriel, said his group was ready for talks after the clashes in Magenis.
"With the communique from the presidency, we hope that the situation will come back to normalcy," he said.On Monday, regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development said the clashes went beyond Machar's party and posed a threat to the rest of South Sudan.More from ReutersSubscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S., China trade barbs at U.N. over South China SeaU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called out bullying in the South China Sea on Monday and warned the U.N. Security Council that a conflict 'would have serious global consequences for security and for commerce,' sparking a strong rebuke from China.
Read more »
North Korea says South, U.S. should 'pay a price' for military drillsNorth Korea leader Kim Jong Un's sister says South Korea and the U.S. should pay a price for going ahead with annual joint military drills due to begin this week.
Read more »
Free shots at South Beach nightclub - vaccine shots, that isLIV is offering free COVID-19 vaccines outside the Miami club where high rollers spend up to $20,000 just for a table. The start-studded nightclub, where Super Bowl champs celebrate at parties so legendary they've inspired lyrics from Drake and Kanye West, set up pop-up COVID vaccine sites over the weekend at LIV and club Story to entice the young demographic that is rapidly filling up Florida hospitals as the delta variant rapidly spreads across Florida. The Sunshine State set another record high over the weekend.
Read more »
South Korea to release Samsung scion on paroleSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will release billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong on parole this week after he spent 18 months in prison for his role in a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the ouster of the country’s previous president.
Read more »
North Korea issues warning to US and South Korea over 'hostile acts'A senior North Korean official has denounced South Korea over its joint military exercises with the United States, which are due to begin this week, warning that such actions risked provoking 'a serious security crisis.'
Read more »
North Korea says U.S., South Korea will face new threats for military drillsSouth Korea and the United States will face even greater security threats for going ahead with annual joint military drills due to begin this week, Kim Yo Jong, a powerful North Korean official and sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said on Tuesday.
Read more »