President Kiir

President Salva Kiir has instructed the negotiating team in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to continue to negotiate a peace agreement with the SPLM-SPLA –in Opposition despite fresh fighting in Malakal. 

The statement from the office of the President came after fighting broke out between forces loyal to the former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and the government forces in Upper Nile State capital, Malakal yesterday.

‘‘The government of Salva Kiir Mayardit is willing and determined to ensure that peace comes to South Sudan,” the Presidential Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, told journalists.

“So, there has never been any order that has been given to the negotiating team to pull out. They are to stay there and continue to negotiate.’’

In a joint press conference yesterday, the Army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer, alleged that he believes there is a country which he did not name that gives possible external support to Machar forces.

He added that there is enough evidence that planes have been landing and dropping ammunition to Machar forces.

He did not mention from which country the planes originate, and said that this issue will be investigated.