Warning to NGOs
The government of South Sudan has cautioned NGOs operating within the country against reporting on violations of the ceasefire. Since the ceasefire agreement was signed, the government and the armed opposition have been fighting each other while trading accusations about who is responsible for the violations. The minister of cabinet affairs Martin Elia Lomuro during a press conference said that no one has the responsibility of reporting on violations except the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) that is the international ceasefire monitoring body. The minister called on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to empower CTSAMM to monitor and report on any violations. Mr. Lomuro also said that the government recorded thirty-one attacks on their positions by the rebels. However, CTSAMM did not verify the claim.
US says South Sudan is an unfit partner
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called the government of South Sudan under Salva Kiir an unfit partner in the pursuit of peace in South Sudan. She said this while expressing her disappointment in the government in which the United States had invested over 10 billion dollars. Haley made these remarks during a meeting of the UN Security Council. She said that despite the ceasefire agreement being signed by the government and the rebels, the fighting has only increased and then the government promoted three army generals on whom the UN had imposed sanctions in 2015. Haley also called for an arms embargo on South Sudan as a means of reducing violence in the country and protecting civilians from fighting and death.
Two Kenyan pilots held
The armed opposition group SPLA-IO led by Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar is holding two Kenyan pilots. The pilots’ plane crashed in Akobo East in the Bieh state. The crash killed one civilian and destroyed property including several cows. The rebels say they will only release the pilots after compensation is paid to the family of the civilian that was killed and also to the people who lost cows. The rebel governor of Bieh state confirmed that the pilots were in rebel custody, and they had received medical assistance and are healthy.
Did government kill civilians?
The armed opposition group allied to Dr. Riek Machar accused the government of killing civilians that were crossing into the Yei state despite the ceasefire agreement. The deputy spokesperson of the group, Gabriel Lam, met with the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM )and presented a video that allegedly showed the government troops killing civilians that were trying to cross into a rebel-controlled area in Yei state. Mr. Lam told the monitoring mechanism that SPLA-IO respects the ceasefire agreement and he demanded that the government do the same.
