The government has demanded explanation from UNMISS about violence that broke out in the UN camp in Malakal on Wednesday.

UNMISS and Eastern Nile state government officials say the fighting was between two ethnic communities living in the camp.

The medical charity group, MSF, says 18 people, including two of its workers, were killed in the clash that continued until yesterday.

After a Council of Ministers meeting in Juba this afternoon, the Minister of Information, Michael Makuei told Journalists that the government regrets the incident.

“We strongly condemn it and we demand clarification and explanation from UNMISS as to what happened in Malakal camp because in that camp, as reported, about 18 people are killed, and we don’t know what the root causes of the problems were, and how far is the UNMISS conforming to responsibility of protection of the civil population,” Michael Makuei told reporters.

“The UNMISS is supposed to protect the population, but unfortunately, it is even unable to protect those who are with them in the camp; that in your camps there are fire arms, but they have been telling us that there are no fire arms,” he said.

“This fighting which took place in Malakal is a clear affirmation of our position that the UNMISS camps are not even safe.”

Mr. Makuei says a high level delegation will be sent to Malakal and Wau, where incidents of violence have been reported in the last two days.

MPs representing the Chollo in the national assembly also told a news conference in Juba this morning that UNMISS had failed to protect civilians.

But in a statement today, the mission says although the clash was between youths from two communities in the camp, but armed men from outside shot into the site.

“Violence was further compounded by shooting coming from outside the base into the PoC site -reportedly from armed men allegedly donning SPLA uniforms,” the statement by UNMISS spokesperson Ariane Quentier reads.

“UN troops exchanged fire with them and eventually pushed them out side of the UN compound. UNMISS Force has also intensified its patrols around the perimeter of the site and secured specific areas in the vicinity of the UN base,” she said.

“The UN troops and Police are also clearing the scene of the fighting as well as the site searching for illegal weapons,” the statement added.

The mission also increased their patrols while physically securing areas near the camp.

According to UN figures, roughly 48,000 people live inside the camp in Malakal.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has condemned the violence.

In a statement last evening, Ban Ki-Moon warned all parties against inciting ethnic disputes and for restrain from any actions or statements that could further escalate the situation’.