South Sudanese capital sees third day of fighting

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) – Fighting in South Sudan’s capital continued on Sunday as forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar clashed for the third day in a row.

The fresh flare-up in Juba has prompted international calls for restraint.

This latest outbreak of violence comes barely two months after the formation of a transitional government of national unity to end more than two years of bloody civil war in the world's youngest nation.

South Sudan army chief of staff Gen. Paul Malong Awan told Anadolu Agency that the military was aware of “anti-peace elements” planning to drag the country back into conflict.

"The SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] will not tolerate such activities and will act according to the law to protect civilians," Gen. Awan said.

However, a spokesman for Machar, James Gatdet Dak, posted a statement online claiming that the former rebels’ “partner” in government was unable to control its forces.

The two sides have also traded accusations over fighting in the city’s Jebel area with the official military saying it prevented “opposition forces” from advancing into central Juba.

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary, General Ellen Margrethe Loj, on Saturday called on Kiir and Machar’s forces to end hostilities.

Several peace deals, including a 2014 permanent cease-fire, have been reached before, only to be broken amid mutual recriminations.

South Sudan was thrown into civil war in Dec. 2013 two years after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Kiir accused his sacked deputy-turned-rebel-leader Machar of plotting a coup, an accusation Machar denied.

Tens of thousands have died and more than 2.4 million have been displaced from their homes.