Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                 South Sudan's Government Commits to Ceasefire

   An African regional bloc says South Sudan`s government has agreed to a
   cease-fire, a move that could help end ethnic fighting that has left
   more than 1,000 people dead this month.
   The Inter Governmental Authority on Development announced the decision
   at the end of a Friday summit in Nairobi. The group urged supporters of
   President Salva Kiir`s former deputy, Riek Machar, to make the same
   commitment.
   Machar was not at the summit and had no immediate reaction to the
   announcement.
   In another development Friday, the first reinforcements arrived for the
   U.N. peacekeeping force in South Sudan. The United Nations says an
   additional 72 Bangladeshi police officers came from neighboring
   Democratic Republic of Congo.
   The U.N. Security Council voted last week to temporarily increase its
   troops in South Sudan from 8,000 to nearly 14,000.
   The violence in South Sudan broke out earlier this month, after
   President Kiir accused Machar of attempting a coup.
   Machar says the violence was the result of a purge of Mr. Kiir`s
   political rivals.
   The violence quickly took on an ethnic dimension, with members of
   President Kiir`s Dinka ethnic group fighting the Nuer group to which
   Machar belongs.
   During Friday`s summit, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called on both
   sides to seek compromise.
   "We have a very small window of opportunity to secure peace which we
   urge all stakeholders to seize, including Riek Machar."
   Mr. Kenyatta says the violence could threaten regional stability.
   "If the present violence continues, and the violence on the ground
   leads to atrocities against civilians, it will create a global dynamic
   that will make it much more difficult for South Sudan and the region to
   reach a solution."
   Earlier, President Kiir and Machar both said they were ready for
   dialogue, but the government rejected Machar`s demand that detained
   opposition leaders be released first.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/south-sudans-government-commits-to-ce
   asefire/1819105.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/south-sudans-government-commits-to-ceasefire/1819105.html