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Kerry promotes South Sudan peace talks as new fighting erupts Kerry promotes South Sudan peace talks as new fighting erupts
(about 4 hours later)
LUANDA, Angola — Secretary of State John F. Kerry said peace talks between the government and rebels in South Sudan are the only way to resolve rising violence there, even as renewed warfare broke out Monday.LUANDA, Angola — Secretary of State John F. Kerry said peace talks between the government and rebels in South Sudan are the only way to resolve rising violence there, even as renewed warfare broke out Monday.
“We encourage both leaders to take advantage of this moment to try to make peace for their people,” or suffer economic sanctions and other consequences if they fail, Kerry said Monday, three days after he secured a pledge to begin peace talks as soon as this week. “We encourage both leaders to take advantage of this moment to try to make peace for their people,” or suffer economic sanctions and other consequences if they fail, Kerry said Monday, three days after he said the two sides could begin talks as soon as this week.
The South Sudanese army said it overran a rebel base in Nasir and retook the key oil hub of Bentiu, news agencies reported. Bentiu was the site of a massacre last month that spurred outside efforts such as Kerry’s to prod the government and rebels to the peace table. The South Sudanese army said it overran a rebel base in Nasir and retook the key oil hub of Bentiu, news agencies reported. Bentiu was the site of a massacre last month that spurred outside efforts such as Kerry’s to prod the government and the rebels to the peace table.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki condemned what she called a violation of a cease-fire agreement that both sides signed in January but have repeatedly violated.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki condemned what she called a violation of a cease-fire agreement that both sides signed in January but have repeatedly violated.
“The parties need to recognize they signed a cessation of hostilities agreement, both of them, and the international community is prepared to take steps to see that that is honored,” Kerry said. “The parties need to recognize they signed a cessation-of-hostilities agreement, both of them, and the international community is prepared to take steps to see that that is honored,” Kerry said.
He spoke during a visit to Angola, his last diplomatic stop on an African tour that was dominated by the worsening violence in U.S.-backed South Sudan. The United States was instrumental in helping the world’s newest nation come into being three years ago and is a major donor to South Sudan. He spoke during a visit to Angola, his last diplomatic stop on an Africa tour that was dominated by the worsening violence in U.S.-backed South Sudan. The United States was instrumental in helping the world’s newest nation come into being three years ago and is a major donor to South Sudan.
The major offensive came three days after Kerry went to South Sudan for emergency talks with President Salva Kiir. Kerry emerged from the talks Friday to say that Kiir had promised to abide by the terms of the January cease-fire, which has yet to take hold, and to participate in negotiations sponsored by neighboring Ethiopia. The military offensive came three days after Kerry went to South Sudan for emergency talks with President Salva Kiir. Kerry emerged from the talks Friday to say that Kiir had promised to abide by the terms of the January cease-fire and to participate in negotiations sponsored by neighboring Ethiopia.
Kiir said Friday that he was willing to talk.Kiir said Friday that he was willing to talk.
Col. Philip Aguer, a spokesman for South Sudan’s army, said the advance forced rebel leader Riek Machar, the country’s former vice president, to take flight and sent rebels fleeing toward the Ethiopian border, news agencies reported. Machar’s troops have been fighting forces loyal to Kiir since December. Machar spoke to Kerry by phone on Friday but would not commit to talks.Col. Philip Aguer, a spokesman for South Sudan’s army, said the advance forced rebel leader Riek Machar, the country’s former vice president, to take flight and sent rebels fleeing toward the Ethiopian border, news agencies reported. Machar’s troops have been fighting forces loyal to Kiir since December. Machar spoke to Kerry by phone on Friday but would not commit to talks.
Fighting around Bentiu was still being reported Monday.Fighting around Bentiu was still being reported Monday.
A spokesman for Machar’s negotiating team in Ethiopia told the Associated Press on Monday that Machar first wants a “program” that includes a timeline for the formation of a transitional government as well as its composition and structure.A spokesman for Machar’s negotiating team in Ethiopia told the Associated Press on Monday that Machar first wants a “program” that includes a timeline for the formation of a transitional government as well as its composition and structure.
“The Americans are pushing us to go to Juba and form an interim government,” said the spokesman, Yohanis Musa Pouk, referring to the South Sudanese capital. “We cannot go there without an agreement on a program first. We need to know who will be in that transitional government, in what capacity, for how long and issues like that.”“The Americans are pushing us to go to Juba and form an interim government,” said the spokesman, Yohanis Musa Pouk, referring to the South Sudanese capital. “We cannot go there without an agreement on a program first. We need to know who will be in that transitional government, in what capacity, for how long and issues like that.”
Machar also appeared to dismiss peace talks in a weekend interview in South Sudanese media. Machar also appeared to dismiss peace talks in a weekend interview in South Sudanese news media.
Kerry said he had seen the comments but insisted Monday that Machar is not ruling out talks under the auspices of Ethiopia’s prime minister. He said Machar had assured the Ethiopians he would come.Kerry said he had seen the comments but insisted Monday that Machar is not ruling out talks under the auspices of Ethiopia’s prime minister. He said Machar had assured the Ethiopians he would come.
“He has a fundamental decision to make,” Kerry said of Machar.“He has a fundamental decision to make,” Kerry said of Machar.
“We have a number of different options available to us, “ Kerry said. “We have said we are serious and there will be accountability and implications if people do not join into this legitimate effort.”“We have a number of different options available to us, “ Kerry said. “We have said we are serious and there will be accountability and implications if people do not join into this legitimate effort.”
Kerry said he discussed the crisis Sunday with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who he said plans to go to Juba on Tuesday. The U.N. Security Council is considering sanctions against both sides in the conflict, as is Washington. Kerry said he discussed the crisis Sunday with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who he said plans to go to Juba on Tuesday. The U.N. Security Council is considering sanctions against both sides in the conflict, as is Washington.
The United States is also pushing for an expanded African military force to separate the warring sides and keep peace. The troops, if they arrive, would be under United Nations auspices. The United States is also pushing for an expanded African military force to separate the warring sides and keep peace. The troops, if they arrive, would be under the auspices of the United Nations.
Aguer, the South Sudanese army spokesman, said Bentiu was taken after a day-long exchange of fire Sunday that caused an unknown number of casualties.Aguer, the South Sudanese army spokesman, said Bentiu was taken after a day-long exchange of fire Sunday that caused an unknown number of casualties.
Nasir was the rebel headquarters where the Machar’s forces were mobilizing to attack the town of Malakal, Aguer told AP. Nasir was the rebel headquarters where Machar’s forces were mobilizing to attack the town of Malakal, Aguer told AP.
Political tension between Kiir and Machar boiled over to open warfare in December. South Sudan is teetering on civil war and at risk of widespread famine if fighting does not end quickly, the United Nations and other outside organizations have warned. Political tension between Kiir and Machar boiled over to open warfare in December. South Sudan is teetering on the brink of a civil war and is at risk of widespread famine if fighting does not end quickly, the United Nations and other outside organizations have warned.
Thousands have been killed, mostly civilians, and more than 1 million people displaced.Thousands have been killed, mostly civilians, and more than 1 million people displaced.
The violence is increasingly becoming an ethnic contest between Kiir’s Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer people.The violence is increasingly becoming an ethnic contest between Kiir’s Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer people.