27 December, 2013
From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.
The government of South Sudan has told its soldiers to stop fighting government opponents. The move is part of an effort to end violence that began after a dispute between the country's president and former vice-president.
The government's announcement came after leaders of other countries in the area met to urge the two sides to stop the violence. A spokesman for South Sudan's Foreign Ministry told VOA on Friday that the government's cease-fire will begin immediately. It gave the government's opponents three days to answer the call for a cease-fire.
Violence began in the capital Juba on December 15th and quickly spread across the country after a dispute between President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar -- his main political competitor. In July, Mr. Kiir dismissed his cabinet, including Mr. Machar. Tensions had been rising since then, but fighting began only when Mr. Kiir accused Mr. Machar of planning to overthrow the government. Mr. Machar denied the claim.
The fighting surprised many observers. From the time South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, many feared that the new country would be at war with Sudan, the country from which it won independence. Instead, South Sudan is at war with itself.
The fighting has divided the military in some areas, and has increased ethnic tensions. Some members of President Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group have been fighting with Mr. Machar’s ethnic group -- the Nuer.
The foreign ministry said government soldiers have taken control of Malakal -- the capital of Upper Nile state -- after days of fierce battles.
Leaders of East African countries meeting in Nairobi on Friday welcomed the South Sudanese government’s decision to end the fighting. They called on Mr. Machar and others to do the same.