UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns deadly attack on UN mission in South Sudan

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement on Friday condemning the attack on the UN mission's compound in Akobo that killed two Indian peacekeepers.

In his statement, the secretary-general urged the cessation of hostilities and called for dialogue.

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the attack on the UNMISS base in Akobo, Jonglei State, on 19 December by armed elements. As the base was overrun by approximately 2,000 armed elements, two Indian peacekeepers were killed, and another was injured while protecting civilians. A number of South Sudanese civilians, who were seeking refuge in the UNMISS base, are reported to have been killed by the armed elements.

The Secretary-General expresses his condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and the Government of India. He also sends condolences to the families of the Southern Sudanese killed yesterday.

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The Secretary-General reiterates his call for all parties to exercise restraint, and to cease hostilities. He also strongly calls on the top leaders of the SPLM to demonstrate compromise and leadership on behalf of the Southern Sudanese people and to resolve their personal differences through dialogue immediately.

The UN has expressed concern that recent violence in South Sudan has been fueled by ethnic rivalries between the president's Dinka community and the ousted former vice president's Nuer community.

On Monday, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit reported an attack against an army base by members loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. The military quelled the attack and the president imposed a curfew. Despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew, gunfire continued into Tuesday. The U.S. Embassy imposed an ordered evacuation on Tuesday.

Youths from the local Nuer community carried out Thursday's violent attack against the UN mission compound as retribution for the alleged targeted killing of Nuer tribal members in Juba.

[United Nations] [CNN] [UPI] [The Guardian]