By Xinhua
![The SPLA training in a past rehearsal event [©militaryphotos]](https://i0.wp.com/nyamile.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/spla06-04-2014-2014-04-06-at-9-00-43-pm.png?resize=548%2C252)
UNMISS reported that despite shooting Wednesday morning in the state capital of Bentiu and Rubkona, which forced a closure of airport for several hours, the situation has otherwise remained calm, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a daily briefing at the UN headquarters in New York.
The mission also reported heavy deployments of government and pro-government forces in both areas, said Dujarric, who added that currently more than 23,000 civilians are being protected at the UN site in Bentiu.
Incidents of fighting between Sudan People’s Liberation Army ( SPLA) and opposition forces in parts of Unity and Upper Nile state over last weekend violated a ceasefire deal agreed on May 9 by President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar.
The deal was aimed to resolve the five-month-old crisis in the world’s youngest country that has claimed thousands of lives, left nearly 5 million in need of humanitarian assistance and led to atrocities being committed by both sides.
UNMISS also strongly condemned the looting of medical equipment and supplies and called on the parties to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel, and those who are sick or wounded, the spokesperson said.
Other tensions within the Bentiu protection site include threats and physical assault against contractors guarding UN facilities on Monday and Tuesday. The mission said peacekeepers were called in to defuse the situation.
1 comment
It is clear and evident from this deployment of troops by Kiir and its foreign forces of UPDF and JEM plus the SPLM/A North that they do not acknowledge the recently signed and rededication to cessation of hostilities agreement by the two leaders. The former detainees final position if turn out to be that they remain to be independent and not join either side of the warring parties, the two leaders should consider their association like that of civil society organizations of either side. The strategy to steal power through the back door will mostly fail and now their trick is known if they can not be with Kiir and not with Machar, who are they fighting for and how would they fight for such cause if not by politically side or opposing Kiir regime and opt for change. You can not oppose both Riek and Kiir, then who are you in the context of South Sudan political crisis?