South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (left), and opposition leader Riek Machar held a rare face-to-face meeting on Sunday. Photo: Peter Louis GUME / AFP/FileSource: AFPFresh fighting erupted Friday between government and opposition forces in South Sudan just days after both sides pledged to uphold a ceasefire and try to save a teetering peace deal. The clashes in oil-rich Unity State were the latest in recent weeks between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his deputy, veteran opposition leader Riek Machar. "We direct all forces to cease hostilities and uphold the cessation of hostilities agreement," said Lieutenant General Thoi Chany Reat, deputy chief of South Sudan People's Defence Forces. South Sudan achieved statehood 2011 after a decades-long struggle for independence from Sudan, but slipped into its own war two years later.

Source: Daily Nation April 08, 2022 15:02 UTC