South Sudan army accuses rebels of violating ceasefire agreement

The South Sudan army on Sunday accused the rebel forces, led by former vice-president Riek Machar, of violating the most recent ceasefire agreement and bombarding areas under the control of South Sudan army.

"Machar's forces have not committed to the recently signed ceasefire agreement," Philip Aguer, South Sudan Army Spokesman, told Xinhua on Sunday.

"Today the rebels bombarded Al-Nasir town in Upper Nile State. The rebels also attacked a camp of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) at Rankai area in Mayom town of Unity State," Aguer said.

He further reiterated the South Sudan army's commitment to the ceasefire, saying that "we are committed to what we have agreed upon, except for in self-defense when we are forced to respond to the rebels' attacks."

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit and rebel leader Riek Machar signed on Feb. 2 an agreement stipulating cease-fire, power-sharing and formation of an interim government prior to reach a comprehensive prospect for ending the conflict by March 5.

Seyoum Mesfin, chief mediator of the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD), earlier announced that the two South Sudanese rivals are expected to sign a final agreement on Feb. 20.

South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013, when fighting erupted between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar.

The conflict soon turned into an all-out war, with the violence taking on an ethnic dimension that pitted the president's Dinka tribe against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The clashes have left thousands of South Sudanese dead and forced around 1.9 million people to flee homes. Endit