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South Sudan army launched attack on rebels despite ceasefire: Report

Thursday, 17 September 2015 10:18 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 17 September 2015 10:21 AM ]

The AFP photo shows South Sudanese soldiers in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria State, August 20, 2015.

Peace monitors in South Sudan say the country’s army recently attacked rebel positions in the first such instance reported by military monitors since a ceasefire agreement between the army and the rebels last month.

Monitors from the regional East Africa bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said in a report on Thursday that army helicopters had fired on rebel positions on September 2.

According to the IGAD, monitors “witnessed the helicopter gunships flying towards and engaging” rebel positions outside Malakal, the capital of the Upper Nile State.

The report added that following the attack, army forces moved across the west bank of the Nile to stage a ground attack.

‘Committed to ceasefire’ and fighting, too!

The report details violations by both sides, some of which allegedly took place as recent as September 9.

This comes two days after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said he was fully committed to the ceasefire that went into effect on August 29.

Earlier this week, the United Nations (UN) requested that sanctions – including a global travel ban and assets freeze – be imposed on South Sudan’s army chief Paul Malong and rebel commander Johnson Olony over the continued violence.

South Sudan plunged into chaos in December 2013, when fighting erupted around the capital city of Juba between troops loyal to Kiir and defectors led by former vice president and now rebel leader Riek Machar.

The 20-month-long violence has left thousands of people dead and forced almost two million others from their homes. At least seven ceasefire deals have already been agreed and violated.

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