South Sudan downplays recent fighting with rebels

JUBA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan on Monday said the recent sporadic fighting between government troops and rebels will not derail the signed final peace agreement, urging the international community to support the transitional government.

Mawien Makol, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said the fighting was sporadic will not derail implementation of the peace agreement like previous incidents that resulted into the July 2016 renewed clashes that eventually weakened the 2015 peace agreement.

"Some of these things (fighting) are sporadic and not on a large scale but generally the situation is calm," he told Xinhua in Juba, adding that the government is looking toward the international community for support on peace.

The Troika countries that include the United States, Britain and Norway last week expressed concern about the possibility of the recent peace deal collapsing like others in the past.

They further warned that they will not be funding the deal if intermittent fighting between the government troops and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) led by Riek Machar does not stop.

Makol disclosed that despite these developments they are committed to the implementation of the peace agreement and need the Troika to avail funds for supporting the Transitional Government National Unity which is already running for eight months.

"Peace implementation involves some financial obligations from international community. I don't see any reason why they can't help with funding now," he said.

South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.

The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally, and the world's youngest nation has for the third year running been ranked as the deadliest for aid workers to operate.