The United States of America Embassy in Juba condemned Malakal clashes, describing them as blatant disregard of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed between the Government and SPLM/A in opposition.
A statement issued on Tuesday said “The fighting in Malakal endangers the lives of civilians and threatens further instability in Upper Nile State. Armed conflict and violence will not solve this crisis.”
The statement called on both parties to immediately abide by ceasefire agreement to engage in serious negotiations at the peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The US embassy stressed, “It is of paramount importance for the government to name and send immediately its representatives to the Joint Technical Committee so that the Monitoring and Verification Teams can begin their work of monitoring the Agreement under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development or IGAD”.
The statement warned that continued military conflict would only prolong the violence and worsen the humanitarian crisis that threatens to consume the country.