South Sudan President Calls For Ceasefire In Capital

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has called for an immediate ceasefire of the ongoing violent clashes in the country’s capital of Juba. 

Violent clashes between the South Sudan army and ex-rebels have been going on on the city since last Friday, leaving many civilians to flee the area. 

The violence is also putting the recent peace deal in the balance, with many locals fearing that the country is on the brink of returning to civil war. 

Information Minister, Michael Makuei, made a plea on national television on behalf of the President for an end to the violence and a complete ceasefire: 

“…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,” he said. 

The United Nations has also expressed their concern over the ongoing violence in the country, saying that over 7000 people have sought shelter at two different UN compounds in the capital since the violence broke out. 

They also said that various civilians as well as UN troops have been injured and killed in the various compounds. 

“…UNMISS compounds are caught directly between the fighting and continue to sustain impacts from small arms and heavy weapons fire,” the UN said in a statement.

Vice President Riek Machar, who is also the rebel leader and has been sending his rebels to fight against President Kiir’s soldiers, has not yet responded to requests of a ceasefire.