Both the government troops and the SPLM in Opposition forces say the ceasefire has been violated, a day after it became effective on Saturday night.

The SPLA says its positions came under attack yesterday in Unity and Upper Nile states.

“Yesterday there a village attacked North East of Rank County, toward the border and that was an attack on the civilians,” said SPLA spokesman Col Philip Aguer Panyang.

“One civilian was killed and that force definitely belongs to the rebels of Riek Machar,” he told Eye Radio.

On Thursday, President Salva Kiir issued a republican order declaring a permanent ceasefire with the SPLM in Opposition.

The leader of the SPLM-IO, Dr Riek Machar, also announced over the weekend that he had declared a ceasefire.

The two leaders said they were acting in the spirit of a peace agreement signed earlier to end the conflict.

The ceasefire was to become effective at mid-night on Saturday.

Col Aguer says there was another attack in Unity State on Sunday.

“There was an attack in place call Kai-Kang by the rebels … Kai-Kang is in the western part of Unity State at the border –toward the border with Sudan,” he said.

On its part, the SPLM in Opposition announced yesterday that it clashed with government forces in Leer, Mayandit and Koch counties in Unity State.

But it denied attacking first.

“The government forces launched multiple attacks … less than 24 hours after the cessation of hostility agreement came into effect on Saturday night,” according to a statement circulated by Dickson Gatluak, the deputy military spokesman of the SPLM-IO.

The international community is increasing pressure on both parties to implement the peace agreement, threatening more sanctions on those obstructing peace.

Six generals on both sides of the conflict have already been sanctioned by the UN Security Council for their alleged roles in the conflict.