The Troika countries have condemned the deadly inter-communal violence that occurred at the UNMISS protection of civilian site in Malakal last week.

The violence which broke out on Wednesday evening has left at least 18 people dead, according to the medical charity, MSF.

A community leader at the camp said the attack came after UNIMSS conducted weapons inspections based on the information that some civilians in the camp were in possession of weapons.

The UK, US and Norway say they are ‘particularly concerned by credible reports of the role the SPLA forces stationed outside the UNMISS camp played in escalating and contributing to the violence’.

“We call on the Government of South Sudan to immediately conduct an investigation of this violence to identify those responsible, including SPLA forces, in order to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent similar incidents anywhere in South Sudan,” said a statement.

However, the SPLA has said it had no information about the fighting.

They also called for unhindered access for UNMISS and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism to conduct their own independent investigation of the incident.