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UN chief slams violence in protection site in South Sudan

Xinhua, February 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the violence that broke out overnight in the UN Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, in the northeastern part of South Sudan.

"Any attack directed against civilians, UN premises and peacekeepers may constitute a war crime," he stressed.

"The secretary-general notes with concern the rising inter-communal tensions between the Dinka and Shilluk which precipitated this incident," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Ban warns all parties against stoking ethnic disputes and calls on them to refrain from any actions or statements that could further escalate the situation.

"The secretary-general also reminds all concerned, including government security forces, of the inviolability of the United Nations compounds," said the statement. "He underscores in no uncertain terms that any attack directed against civilians, UN premises and peacekeepers may constitute a war crime."

The UN chief also urged the leaders of South Sudan to implement without delay the peace agreement reached six months ago, so that the people of South Sudan can begin a process of reconciliation and healing, said the statement. So far, the attack claimed the lives of at least seven internally displaced persons and wounded about 40 others, said the United Nations.

Earlier Thursday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemned the violence that erupted on Wednesday night in the youngest country in the world which involved the use of small arms, machetes and other weapons, Dujarric told reporters.

UNMISS protects more than 47,000 civilians in Malakal and almost 200,000 civilians at six bases throughout South Sudan.

The UN Mission was established by the council on July 9, 2011, the day when South Sudan became an independent country after decades of civil war between the north and south of Sudan, which ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Fighting broke out in South Sudan in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, driving 1.5 million South Sudanese from their homes and leaving almost 5 million in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Enditem