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| South Sudan capital rocked by renewed violence | South Sudan capital rocked by renewed violence |
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| Renewed gunfights have broken out across South Sudan’s capital between forces loyal to the president and those of the vice-president, officials said, causing widespread casualties and raising fears that the country is returning to civil war. | Renewed gunfights have broken out across South Sudan’s capital between forces loyal to the president and those of the vice-president, officials said, causing widespread casualties and raising fears that the country is returning to civil war. |
| At least 272 people have died in fighting in the capital, Juba, including 33 civilians, a government source said on Sunday. | At least 272 people have died in fighting in the capital, Juba, including 33 civilians, a government source said on Sunday. |
| Fighting broke out on Thursday and Friday between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers who support the vice-president, Riek Machar. | Fighting broke out on Thursday and Friday between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and soldiers who support the vice-president, Riek Machar. |
| The violence has raised fears South Sudan could face further instability after emerging from a two-year civil war, which began in December 2013 after Kiir sacked Machar as vice-president. | The violence has raised fears South Sudan could face further instability after emerging from a two-year civil war, which began in December 2013 after Kiir sacked Machar as vice-president. |
| On Saturday, Juba was calm, but on Sunday a Reuters witness said gunfire was heard in the Gudele and Jebel suburbs, near the military barracks hosting troops loyal to Machar. | |
| “For about 30 to 40 minutes we heard sounds of heavy artillery in the direction of Jebel area,” an aide worker based in Juba who did not want to be named told Reuters. | “For about 30 to 40 minutes we heard sounds of heavy artillery in the direction of Jebel area,” an aide worker based in Juba who did not want to be named told Reuters. |
| South Sudan’s civil war was fought largely along ethnic lines with Kiir, a Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, drawing support from their respective tribes. A peace agreement last August ended the war but Kiir and Machar have yet to integrate their forces, a key part of the peace deal. | South Sudan’s civil war was fought largely along ethnic lines with Kiir, a Dinka, and Machar, a Nuer, drawing support from their respective tribes. A peace agreement last August ended the war but Kiir and Machar have yet to integrate their forces, a key part of the peace deal. |
| The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, said on Friday the latest violence highlighted a lack of commitment to the peace process and urged the country’s leaders to end the fighting, discipline military leaders and work together to implement the peace deal. | The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, said on Friday the latest violence highlighted a lack of commitment to the peace process and urged the country’s leaders to end the fighting, discipline military leaders and work together to implement the peace deal. |
| Sunday’s fighting hit a UN camp for displaced people affected by the violence, according to witnesses. | |
| “The condition is really very bad. We have a lot of casualties this side, I think around 50 to 60 besides those of yesterday,” said an official in the camp, who insisted on anonymity for fear of retribution. “We have civilian casualties. We have rocket-propelled grenades that have landed in the camp which has wounded eight people.” | “The condition is really very bad. We have a lot of casualties this side, I think around 50 to 60 besides those of yesterday,” said an official in the camp, who insisted on anonymity for fear of retribution. “We have civilian casualties. We have rocket-propelled grenades that have landed in the camp which has wounded eight people.” |
| At least one person in the camp died, he said, but he did not know about casualties outside where there was heavy fighting. | At least one person in the camp died, he said, but he did not know about casualties outside where there was heavy fighting. |
| Government forces attacked a rebel base in the Jebel area of the capital on Sunday morning, said William Gatjiath Deng, a spokesman for the rebel forces. “Three helicopter gunships have just come now and bombed our side,” he said. | Government forces attacked a rebel base in the Jebel area of the capital on Sunday morning, said William Gatjiath Deng, a spokesman for the rebel forces. “Three helicopter gunships have just come now and bombed our side,” he said. |
| Government spokesmen could not be reached for comment. | Government spokesmen could not be reached for comment. |
| The UN mission in South Sudan is on a high security alert with no movement of personnel, said Shantal Persaud, spokeswoman for the UN mission. | The UN mission in South Sudan is on a high security alert with no movement of personnel, said Shantal Persaud, spokeswoman for the UN mission. |
| Sunday’s fighting is a resumption of the conflict on Friday in which more than 100 people died. A precarious calm was restored on Saturday – the day South Sudan was to celebrate its fifth independence day – that was shattered by heavy gunfire on Sunday. | Sunday’s fighting is a resumption of the conflict on Friday in which more than 100 people died. A precarious calm was restored on Saturday – the day South Sudan was to celebrate its fifth independence day – that was shattered by heavy gunfire on Sunday. |
| South Sudan is trying to emerge from a two-year civil war caused by political rivalry between Machar and the president. The two leaders issued a joint call for calm after Friday’s fighting, which began outside the presidential compound where Kiir and Machar were meeting and soon spread through the city. | South Sudan is trying to emerge from a two-year civil war caused by political rivalry between Machar and the president. The two leaders issued a joint call for calm after Friday’s fighting, which began outside the presidential compound where Kiir and Machar were meeting and soon spread through the city. |
| A similar skirmish in December 2013 sparked the civil war that killed tens of thousands of people. | A similar skirmish in December 2013 sparked the civil war that killed tens of thousands of people. |