MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti) – Outbreaks of renewed fighting between government and oppositional forces in South Sudan could hamper the next stage of the peace process and negate every effort taken so far to restore peace and security to the country, claim mediators of the South Sudan conflict in a statement, published by the Sudan Tribune.
“It is unfortunate that this trend of events has been observed every time a new session of talks begins and any such sideshows aimed at derailing the peace process will not be tolerated,” said Seyoum Mesfin, chief mediator of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional organization responsible for the development and implementation of two peace agreements.
Recently, fresh violence has broken out over the weekend in the Upper Neal, one of the most active conflict zones in South Sudan. After the outbreak, Mesfin announced that those responsible for violating the peace agreement will be found and punished.
The South Sudanese conflict broke out on December 15, 2013, when governmental troops loyal to President Salva Kiir confronted rebel forces supporting former Vice President Riek Machar. Since the beginning of the conflict, 10,000 people have been killed and about 1.8 million displaced.
