NAIROBI - Japan on Monday started withdrawing its troops from a U.N. mission in war battered South Sudan, according to an official, a move coinciding with escalating violence in a conflict where killings have been described as genocide. The 350-strong Japanese military contingent, which has been based in South Sudan's capital Juba for the past five years, has been mostly helping with infrastructure construction."The first group is leaving today," Daniel Dickinson, spokesman for the U.N. peace keeping mission called UNMISS, told Reuters moments before the troops were due to board their flight at Juba International Airport. Dickinson said the Japanese contingent would leave in three batches and that the group that was due to leave on Monday had 68 troops.Deadly violence, often driven by ethnic hatred has gripped South Sudan since 2013 when fighting broke out between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his political foe Riek Machar whom he sacked as vice president. A 2015 peace deal ended that conflict and Machar was early last year restored to his vice presidency position but persistent animus between the two men finally exploded into fresh fighting in July. Episodes of mass violence especially in the equatorial region of south Sudan have been growing, with surviving civilian witnesses reporting government troops turning up in towns and starting shooting rampages. The UK has described the killings and other atrocities in South Sudan as genocide although the U.N. has not yet made that determination.South Sudan government spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, said they welcomed Japanese troops' departure because "the government of South Sudan is able to control the country." (Editing by Toby Chopra)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan ex-rebels release UN hostages in DR Congo - 18/04/2017 16:39
- South Sudan refugees take 13 UN Congo mission staff hostage - 18/04/2017 15:49
- South Sudan “Open for Business” as First International Law Firm Enters Juba - 18/04/2017 08:46
- Hundreds of British soldiers to tackle South Sudan refugee crisis: Troops deployed after charity warns that without intervention there would be a 'catastrophic' number of deaths - 17/04/2017 17:57
- How factions in South Sudan’s war took shape on British campuses - 17/04/2017 07:34
Older news items
- South Sudan: AU should intervene - 16/04/2017 18:31
- South Sudan army denies charges its troops killed 14 in Raga - 16/04/2017 08:11
- South Sudan hospitals run out of vital drugs - 16/04/2017 00:41
- South Sudan Rebels Allied With Machar Take Control of Raja - 15/04/2017 23:03
- South Sudan rebels say troops kill 14 civilians in Raga town - 15/04/2017 09:10
Latest news items (all categories):
- The power struggles among South Sudan’s political leaders are the direct cause of its ongoing conflict - 11/07/2026 14:03
- Celebrating Independence In The Midst Of Sorrow - 11/07/2026 13:41
- South Sudan resumes oil-backed financing - 11/07/2026 13:33
- Press statement: Strive For National Unity In Honor Of South Sudan's Independence - 10/07/2026 21:23
- Fifteen years of independence for South Sudan, but still little to celebrate - 10/07/2026 21:23
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: Rebel Leader Riek Machar Accused of Enlisting Ethiopians - 08/10/2017 07:26
- South Sudan: Cops Arrest Killers of Ex-Police Commissioner - 01/09/2013 04:36
- South Sudan should be expelled from the UN & AU - 20/03/2014 16:58
- INTERVIEW: PLO Lumumba speaks on South Sudan peace implementation - 30/05/2021 00:33
- South Sudan gets 1st competitive win, Ghana edges Rwanda - 05/09/2015 14:32
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 147774 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27845 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 24935 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24255 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22166 times
