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| African Leaders Press for Peace in South Sudan | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| JUBA, South Sudan — As clashes between government troops and rebels continued in South Sudan on Thursday, diplomats moved swiftly to drag the warring sides to the negotiating table but announced none of the breakthroughs they had hoped for. | JUBA, South Sudan — As clashes between government troops and rebels continued in South Sudan on Thursday, diplomats moved swiftly to drag the warring sides to the negotiating table but announced none of the breakthroughs they had hoped for. |
| President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia arrived on Thursday in South Sudan for talks with President Salva Kiir, pressing for a political solution to the fighting that has engulfed this young nation for more than a week. | President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia arrived on Thursday in South Sudan for talks with President Salva Kiir, pressing for a political solution to the fighting that has engulfed this young nation for more than a week. |
| Diplomats from Africa, Europe and the United States have urgently called for the two sides in the crisis to begin negotiations before the violence escalates into an all-out civil war. Officials called the closed-door discussion with Mr. Kiir and the two regional leaders on Thursday constructive, but the hoped-for result — a plan to begin formal talks between the two sides — was not announced after the session, which lasted hours. | Diplomats from Africa, Europe and the United States have urgently called for the two sides in the crisis to begin negotiations before the violence escalates into an all-out civil war. Officials called the closed-door discussion with Mr. Kiir and the two regional leaders on Thursday constructive, but the hoped-for result — a plan to begin formal talks between the two sides — was not announced after the session, which lasted hours. |
| Even as the meeting took place, a spokesman for the South Sudanese military, Col. Philip Aguer, said that government forces were waging a pitched battle against rebels in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, with the government controlling the city’s north and the rebels the south. | Even as the meeting took place, a spokesman for the South Sudanese military, Col. Philip Aguer, said that government forces were waging a pitched battle against rebels in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, with the government controlling the city’s north and the rebels the south. |
| The crisis in South Sudan began last week after what Mr. Kiir described as a coup attempt by soldiers loyal to the former vice president, Riek Machar. Mr. Kiir dismissed Mr. Machar and the entire cabinet in July. Mr. Machar remains in an undisclosed location after fleeing the capital. Many of his allies were arrested, and he has said their release is a precondition for starting peace talks, a position Mr. Kiir has rejected. | The crisis in South Sudan began last week after what Mr. Kiir described as a coup attempt by soldiers loyal to the former vice president, Riek Machar. Mr. Kiir dismissed Mr. Machar and the entire cabinet in July. Mr. Machar remains in an undisclosed location after fleeing the capital. Many of his allies were arrested, and he has said their release is a precondition for starting peace talks, a position Mr. Kiir has rejected. |
| But the political dispute has spiraled into a broader humanitarian crisis. The United Nations special representative to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, said in a videoconference from the capital here on Thursday that well over 1,000 lives had already been lost in the conflict. More than 50,000 people are seeking refuge at United Nations compounds across the country. The peacekeeping force is overstretched trying to protect them, she said, adding that she expected reinforcements of personnel and equipment within 48 hours. | But the political dispute has spiraled into a broader humanitarian crisis. The United Nations special representative to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, said in a videoconference from the capital here on Thursday that well over 1,000 lives had already been lost in the conflict. More than 50,000 people are seeking refuge at United Nations compounds across the country. The peacekeeping force is overstretched trying to protect them, she said, adding that she expected reinforcements of personnel and equipment within 48 hours. |
| Ms. Johnson said the United Nations did not see the conflict coming. “We knew that there were tensions and that this could lead to problems, but I don’t think any South Sudanese, nor any of us observers, in country or outside, expected an unraveling of the stability so quickly,” she said. “The speed, the gravity and the scale, I think nobody would have expected.” | Ms. Johnson said the United Nations did not see the conflict coming. “We knew that there were tensions and that this could lead to problems, but I don’t think any South Sudanese, nor any of us observers, in country or outside, expected an unraveling of the stability so quickly,” she said. “The speed, the gravity and the scale, I think nobody would have expected.” |
| The dispute stems from a power struggle between grudging collaborators turned outright rivals, but the violence quickly shifted into attacks against civilians and reprisals between ethnic groups. Mr. Kiir is a Dinka, the country’s largest ethnic group, while Mr. Machar is a Nuer, its second largest. South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of civil war. | The dispute stems from a power struggle between grudging collaborators turned outright rivals, but the violence quickly shifted into attacks against civilians and reprisals between ethnic groups. Mr. Kiir is a Dinka, the country’s largest ethnic group, while Mr. Machar is a Nuer, its second largest. South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of civil war. |
| While an uneasy calm prevailed in Juba on Thursday, some fighting continued in the strategic city of Bor, the capital of Jonglei State that is home to a United Nations base where an estimated 17,000 people have sought refuge, Ms. Johnson said. Heavier fighting centered in the oil-producing states of Unity and Upper Nile, disrupting production as foreign oil workers have fled, in some cases shutting down their facilities before departing to limit damage. | While an uneasy calm prevailed in Juba on Thursday, some fighting continued in the strategic city of Bor, the capital of Jonglei State that is home to a United Nations base where an estimated 17,000 people have sought refuge, Ms. Johnson said. Heavier fighting centered in the oil-producing states of Unity and Upper Nile, disrupting production as foreign oil workers have fled, in some cases shutting down their facilities before departing to limit damage. |
| Toby Lanzer, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said one civilian died and six others on the United Nations base in Malakal were wounded on Thursday in the heavy crossfire from the battles there. The United Nations hospital has already treated more than 95 people wounded by gunfire. | Toby Lanzer, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said one civilian died and six others on the United Nations base in Malakal were wounded on Thursday in the heavy crossfire from the battles there. The United Nations hospital has already treated more than 95 people wounded by gunfire. |
| “It’s a very bad situation there right now,” Mr. Lanzer said. “The two sides are really vying for who can control strategic locations in and around the city.” | “It’s a very bad situation there right now,” Mr. Lanzer said. “The two sides are really vying for who can control strategic locations in and around the city.” |
| Teresa Gabriel fled to the United Nations compound in Malakal on Tuesday with her mother, sister and four children. When she came to the compound, she said, she saw looting, fires and wounded people. She said the people taking refuge there were from a mix of ethnic groups, Dinka, Nuer and others. | Teresa Gabriel fled to the United Nations compound in Malakal on Tuesday with her mother, sister and four children. When she came to the compound, she said, she saw looting, fires and wounded people. She said the people taking refuge there were from a mix of ethnic groups, Dinka, Nuer and others. |
| The fighting made it difficult to get aid into the city. The airport in Malakal was closed on Thursday because of the violence. The humanitarian situation in the compound is difficult, Ms. Gabriel explained. “There is no food, no water, and the bathrooms are really bad.” | The fighting made it difficult to get aid into the city. The airport in Malakal was closed on Thursday because of the violence. The humanitarian situation in the compound is difficult, Ms. Gabriel explained. “There is no food, no water, and the bathrooms are really bad.” |
| But she said it was better than being outside the compound. “We could hear the gunfire coming from the town,” Ms. Gabriel said. | But she said it was better than being outside the compound. “We could hear the gunfire coming from the town,” Ms. Gabriel said. |
Nicholas Kulish reported from Juba, and Isma’il Kushkush from Khartoum, Sudan. | Nicholas Kulish reported from Juba, and Isma’il Kushkush from Khartoum, Sudan. |