African Leaders Searching for South Sudan Peace Deal

Friday, December 27, 2013

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A South Sudanese army spokesman said Thursday that each side controls half the town, which is located in a major oil-producing region.

Fighting broke out on December 15, when President Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Machar says the violence was the result of a purge of Kiir's political rivals.

The violence quickly took on an ethnic dimension, with members of President Kiir's Dinka ethnic group fighting against the Nuer group to which Machar belongs.

A South Sudanese army spokesman said Thursday that each side controls half the town, which is located in a major oil-producing region.

Fighting broke out on December 15, when President Kiir accused his ex-deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup. Machar says the violence was the result of a purge of Kiir's political rivals.

The violence quickly took on an ethnic dimension, with members of President Kiir's Dinka ethnic group fighting against the Nuer group to which Machar belongs.

The United Nations says it hopes to put peacekeeping reinforcements in South Sudan within 48 hours.

U.N. envoy Hilde Johnson, speaking in the capital Thursday, stressed the need for "unprecedented speed" to boost U.N. presence. She said more than 50,000 civilians already have sought refuge at U.N. bases since fighting erupted last week.

Johnson also urged the country's political leaders to rein in their forces and give peace a chance.

"It is absolutely fundamental that the leaders of the country and all political forces and communities now put their own identity as South Sudanese first and not their own identity as members of a particular community. It is on that account that this country can move forward out of a situation of violence and strife and on to a peaceful track," said Johnson.

Johnson also said that the fighting has strained U.N. humanitarian resources, forcing officials to seek an additional $166 million in aid.

President Kiir's and Machar have said they are ready for dialogue, but the government rejected Machar's demand that detained opposition leaders be released first.

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