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South Africa voices serious concern over outbreak of violence in South Sudan

Xinhua, July 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed serious concern on Tuesday over the outbreak of violence in South Sudan.

"We join the international community in expressing our deep concerns at the recent outbreak of violence between Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO) which resulted in the loss of lives in the country," said Ramaphosa, who is also the special envoy to South Sudan.

"We condemn this outbreak of violence in the strongest terms possible and call for the immediate restoration of peace in the country," said Ramaphosa.

He said South Africa knows too well the burden of pain and sorrow that war has brought to bear upon the majority of the people of South Sudan over the past few years.

Ramaphosa called on the leadership of South Sudan to take the necessary steps to end the current conflict and to ensure the country remains on course towards the consolidation of the hard-won peace.

"In this regard, we welcome the resolution of the Extra-Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministers held on Monday 11 July 2016 in Nairobi Kenya for an immediate ceasefire and the call on President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to assume their responsibility and to take immediate measures to prevail upon their respective military leaders and to end the fighting," Ramaphosa said.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma on Monday also expressed great concern over the shooting incidences that took place in the past few days in South Sudan.

These shooting incidences threaten to draw back the promising gains made through the compromised Peace Agreement and the recently formed Transitional Government of National Unity, Zuma said. Endit