UN deplores outbreak of fighting in South Sudan's Malakal town

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Sunday expressed concern about the outbreak of heavy fighting between government and opposition forces in Malakal town.

The UNMISS said the situation in the town remained tense after heavy fighting broke out between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and SPLA-in-Opposition in and around Malakal town, amid intermittent shelling that has been reported over the last few days.

"The Mission reiterates its call on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and fully implement the peace agreement," the UNMISS said in a statement released in Juba.

The UN mission said its peacekeepers will continue to patrol regularly in Malakal amid reports that the town is largely deserted.

The UN mission will continue to act within its capacity to protect South Sudanese civilians in imminent danger, according to the statement.

It called on all parties to silence the guns to enable the movement of humanitarian aid and personnel to affected areas.

The world's youngest nation descended into civil war in December 2013 when political differences between President Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy Riek Machar led to fighting that often occurred along ethnic fault lines.

The country plunged into fresh violence in July 2016 due to clashes between rival forces -- SPLA, loyal to Kiir, and the SPLA-in-Opposition, backing Machar.

source: Xinhua