UN Security Council Condemns Renewed Fighting in South Sudanese Capital

The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemns the latest outbreak of violence in the South Sudanese capital of Juba, one of five United Nations' principal bodies said in a statement on Sunday

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier on Sunday, UN reported fierce clashes between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar in the capital.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the fighting in Juba, South Sudan between soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition July 7-8 <…> The members of the Security Council acknowledged the formation of an investigation committee and urged the Transitional Government of National Unity to quickly investigate these attacks," the UNSC statement said.

During the fighting in Juba between SPLA, loyal to Kiir, and SPLA in Opposition, which is supporting Machar, at least 110 soldiers were reportedly killed.

#Juba clashes nearly 7 hrs on, all sides responsible have proven relentless, the #SouthSudan|ese people deserve Peace @unmissmedia

— UNMISS (@unmissmedia) July 10, 2016

​The UNSC statement urged all armed groups to cease hostilities and allow the UN mission in the country to access civilians in need.

"The members of the Security Council… called upon the parties to work together in the Transitional Government of National Unity to resolve their differences in the spirit of cooperation, and in this regard, welcomed the joint statement made by the President, First Vice President, and Vice President appealing for calm," the UNSC noted.

The South Sudan armed ethnic conflict erupted in December 2013, a year-and-a-half after the nation gained independence from Sudan, when President Kiir blamed First Vice President Machar of preparing a military coup. The conflict forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

In August 2015, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal for the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity.