South Sudan crisis: Ban condemns attack on UN base, expresses condolence

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon has strongly condemned the attack on a UN base in South Sudan in which two Indian soldiers were killed and another critically injured among others and has called for all parties to exercise restraint and cease hostilities. Ban expressed his “condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and the Government of India” as well as to the the families of the Southern Sudanese killed in the attack. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Akobo, Jonglei State was overrun by approximately 2,000 armed elements on December 19. Two Indian peacekeepers were killed, and another was injured while protecting civilians. [caption id=“attachment_1300017” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  United Nations, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon addresses the UN General Assembly. AP[/caption] A number of South Sudanese civilians seeking refuge in the UNMISS base, are reported to have been killed by the armed people. The ethnic Lou Nuer youths had asked the Indian soldiers to hand over the South Sudanese people but the Indian soldiers refused. The rebels then started shooting indiscriminately and killed two Indian soldiers. “The Secretary-General reiterates his call for all parties to exercise restraint, and to cease hostilities,” the statement said. “He also strongly calls on the top leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to demonstrate compromise and leadership on behalf of the Southern Sudanese people and to resolve their personal differences through dialogue immediately,” it added. PTI