NAIROBI South Sudan's government has released a United Nations aid worker after detaining him for nearly a month, a top U.N. official said late on Thursday. Other aid workers have been detained since civil war broke out in 2013 in South Sudan, which is increasingly split along ethnic lines, and at least 82 have been killed, including six in a single ambush last month..In February, the U.N. declared parts of the country were suffering from famine, the world's first in six years. This week the government announced it was hiking annual registration fees for international charities from $600 (463.82 pounds) to $3,500. "We are relieved to learn that Peter Alex, a World Food Program aid worker detained by the Government of South Sudan since April 10, has finally been released and reunited with his family," Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said. "Unfortunately, this is not a unique incident in South Sudan, the most dangerous country in the world today for aid workers," the statement from Haley said. The United States has accused South Sudanese President Salva Kiir of contributing to the famine, and called on all sides to stop fighting."The warring parties in South Sudan must stop the ongoing violence," Haley said. "The Government of South Sudan must stop obstructing humanitarian assistance and ensure the safety and security of all humanitarian aid workers." Alex was South Sudanese, a Nairobi-based spokeswoman for the World Food Programme said. A South Sudanese government spokesman said that Haley's statement was "unfortunate". "The reality on the ground contradicts the very statement," deputy minister of information, Akol Paul Kordit, said. "We as the government are aware of the challenges that are facing us in terms of security, whether insecurity to aid workers or even to our own citizens ... This is something we have committed ourselves to work on to stabilise the country." He also rejected the possibility that government troops had attacked a U.N. peacekeeping base in Leer, a small northern town in the oil-producing part of the country.The U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said its base came under fire from the direction of a government-held town on Thursday in an area where the country's main rebel force controls some towns and villages."This is untrue and baseless," he said. "If the UNMISS force or unit in that area came under attack, what is required from UNMISS is not a rush to judgment prior to a proper investigation." (Editing by Louise Ireland)
Newer articles:
- Canada ready to do more to battle famine in South Sudan, Trudeau says - 05/05/2017 14:05
- Residents say South Sudan troops remove 5,000 from church - 05/05/2017 09:24
- S. Sudan 'man-made' famine could be catastrophic, charity warns - 05/05/2017 07:44
- Renegade general Cirillo says ready to enter South Sudan's civil war - 05/05/2017 04:32
- S. Sudan 'man-made' famine could kill 6 million, charity warns - 05/05/2017 04:23
Older news items
- 'The country has become an enemy to itself': Winnipeggers step up to help famine-gripped South Sudan - 04/05/2017 18:25
- Freedom Gone but Work Goes On for South Sudan Journalists - 04/05/2017 12:33
- U.N. condemns 'callous' attack on base in South Sudan - 04/05/2017 11:23
- UN rights chief warns of 50,000 at risk in South Sudan - 04/05/2017 07:08
- South Sudan judges strike paralyses courts - 04/05/2017 04:30
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan vows probe after two Ethiopian peacekeepers killed in Jonglei ambush; Ethiopia, UN and Egypt condemn attack - 26/08/2026 13:06
- Dozens killed in rebel attacks on Sudan’s Kordofan, medical group says - 26/08/2026 13:03
- The truth about the South Sudanese vice president being prevented from travelling to Kenya - 26/08/2026 13:01
- WHO Regional Office Country Focus Coordinator visits South Sudan to strengthen health sector support - 26/08/2026 12:58
- South Sudanese Catholic Bishop Presents Women’s Leadership as Alternative Ahead of First-Ever General Election - 26/08/2026 12:56
Random articles (all categories):
- Online Privacy Guide for Journalists 2017 - 05/07/2017 10:36
- South Sudan Fighting Grinds on, One Year After Ceasefire Deal - 26/01/2015 19:34
- South Sudan imposes nighttime curfew over coronavirus - 25/03/2020 08:32
- IMF Sees South Sudan's 2019 Oil Output Rising as Wells Reopen - 20/03/2019 05:41
- Mukesh Kapila: Act Now or It will Be Too Late - Voice of America - 05/06/2012 21:06
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 148871 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27997 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25081 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24390 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22336 times
