Department of State Seal

The Embassy of the United States in Juba has called on the parties to end communal conflicts in the country.

In a statement seen by Eye Radio, the U.S. government also called on the leaders to start unifying the nation and bringing well-deserved peace to the people of South Sudan.

The Embassy expresses deep concern with continued communal conflict in the country and calls for all parties to deescalate tensions.

The Embassy expressed deep concerns with continued communal conflict in parts of the country.

It described as unacceptable the forced displacement, disruption to livelihoods, diversion and looting of humanitarian aid, and the killing of aid workers in some states.

The US pointed out an uptick in clashes between SSPDF and the National Salvation Front in the past week, accompanied by displacement of civilians and civilian abductions in parts of Central Equatoria state.

It also raised the alarm over the reports of large-scale mobilization of armed groups and fighting on an ethnic basis in Jonglei.

The embassy further noted with concerns tensions between SPLA-IO and SSPDF units in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

There have been reports of arbitrary detention of civilians and attacks on civilian vehicles along the Wau – Tonj road.

The statement urges all parties to immediately adhere to the Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities, comply with their Rome Resolution obligations, and resume dialogue on a political solution to the conflict.

Steve Falange, the Public Affairs Officer in the US Embassy in Juba said that the U.S has welcomed the establishment of a delegation with leaders from both sides.

“We welcome the establishment of a delegation with leaders from both sides and urge immediate dialogue to reduce tensions, forestall further clashes, and prevent a broader threat to the peace agreement ceasefire,” Steve said.

“In Western and Central Equatoria, we note an uptick in clashes between SSPDF and the National Salvation Front in the past week, accompanied by displacement of civilians and civilian abductions.”

The statement called on leaders of South Sudan not to sit back and wait for things to happen, urging them to take decisive actions to end the hostilities.

This is a second such statement issued by the Embassy of the US in South Sudan within a week.

Last week, it expressed concerns over the continued delay in the implementation of some provisions in the revitalized peace agreement.

The Embassy particularly pointed out the impediments in the establishment of a transitional national legislative assembly, and the continued dispute over the governorship of Upper Nile.

It noted that the ambitious reform agenda envisioned in the peace deal is slowly fading because of the continued absence of empowered state and county administrations since the launch of the transitional government five months ago.