African mediation team meets Machar in Jonglei in South Sudan

Khartoum-Juba-The international Security Council urged President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit to release the political prisoners to support the efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the country. Former Vice President Reik Machar has called for the immediate release of 11 persons before accepting any peace agreement with the government. The spokesman of the South Sudan army has said that the government forces were able to retake Benti city, the capital of the oil- rich state of unity, from the rebels.
Later, Machar confessed that his forces lost control over the city of Bentiu. However, he pledged to continue the fighting against the government forces. In a press statement to France Press agency, he said that we have withdrawn from the Bentiu to avoid street fighting and spare the bloods of the civilians, but we will continue the fighting. and we will continue the
The government has affirmed plans to deploy 10.000 soldiers to retake Bor, the last main city controlled by Machar forces. Head of the Peacekeeping administration in the UN said that the fighting in South Sudan has killed about 1000 person since the 15th of December. According to reports, the number of the refugees reached 80.000 persons since the start of the conflict.

Arabic Forum