As the country marked one year since the conflict broke out last year, the U.S government, condemns the on-going violence in South Sudan

The U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samantha Power, says her country is still deeply concerned by the government and opposition’s persistent failure to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis

Ambassador Power says the United States and the United Nations expected both sides to uphold their previous agreements to end hostilities and negotiate earnestly to achieve peace and a transitional government framework.

The United States is urging South Sudan’s leaders to engage more urgently and more seriously in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development-led peace talks in Addis Ababa.

Ambassador Power says the US stands ready to work with South Sudan’s leaders if they take concrete steps toward peace.

She says her government reaffirms its support for UNMISS and urges those countries that have committed troops and equipment to the mission to deploy them quickly.

Ambassador Power says UNMISS must operate at full strength, and it must protect civilians.

There are over 102,000 people seeking refuge at UNMISS facilities in South Sudan.

She says the U.S government reminds all the parties that UN sites, facilities, personnel and all sheltering civilians must be protected, and that attacks on those facilities, the forces guarding them, and the civilians sheltering inside could constitute war crimes.