Dr Riek, President Kiir.

The IGAD mediators have expressed serious concerns after fighting erupted in Malakal. 

The government of Upper Nile says the fighting, which began two days ago between forces loyal to former Vice-President Riek Machar and government forces still continues.

The IGAD Special Envoys said they are concerned about reports of ongoing clashes in various locations across Upper Nile, Jonglei, Warrap and Unity States.

They deplored what they called “breach of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement” signed by the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM-SPLA in Opposition on the 23^rd of January.

The mediators said that these clashes “will only serve to undermine the ongoing mediation process and worsen the suffering of the people of South Sudan”.

The IGAD Special Envoys “strongly urge the parties who are fighting to immediately adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement” and to continue with their “strong commitment to the mediation process”.

They added that “the crisis in South Sudan cannot be solved by military means”. They said “it can only be solved through political dialogue”.

The envoys called on the parties to “fully cooperate to the speedy operationalization of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism enshrined in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement”.

The IGAD mediators urged “the contributing countries to the Joint Technical Committee and the Monitoring and Verification Teams to send in their representatives as soon as possible”.

The mediator appealed to IGAD Partners “to provide necessary logistical support to enable them to speed up the formation of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism”.