No military solution to South Sudan problems, says IGAD

The eastern African bloc Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has condemned new waves of fighting between rival forces in South Sudan, which shattered an August 2015 peace deal brokered by it.

The IGAD said in a statement that fighting would not solve South Sudan's pressing political and economic challenges.

Renewed fighting broke out in July between troops led by President Salva Kiir and forces loyal to sacked First Vice President Riek Machar. Machar, who has since left South Sudan and who is now in Sudan's capital Khartoum, recently called for an armed rebellion against Kiir.

"It (fighting) will only increase the suffering of South Sudan's people, worsen a grave humanitarian crisis, and further inflame ethnic tensions," said the IGAD statement released in Juba on Friday.

The bloc said both the government and armed opposition groups bore responsibility for renewed hostilities since the July fighting.

It called on both sides to be consistent with the peace agreement and to engage in peaceful dialogue.

"We are deeply concerned by heavy fighting around the country in recent weeks, including near Yei, Wau, Bentiu, and Nassir. We are particularly alarmed by reports of widespread violence against civilians," the statement said.

"As a result of this violence, more civilians have been internally displaced and more than one million South Sudanese have now sought refuge in neighboring countries," it added.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million displaced since civil war erupted between forces of Kiir and Machar in December 2013. Endit