The US Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Saturday to condemn recent attacks against the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), telling him the peacekeepers should have unobstructed access to all areas of the country.

In a written statement, the US State Department announced that Kerry spoke Saturday with Kiir “to express grave concern about the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, including recent violence in Bentiu and Bor and the deliberate targeting of civilians by armed groups on both sides of the conflict.”

“Secretary Kerry noted the important role played by the UN Mission in South Sudan, denounced recent attacks on UNMISS bases and personnel, and encouraged President Kiir to ensure full and unfettered access throughout South Sudan for UNMISS, the African Union Commission of Inquiry, and the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism,” the Stated Department disclosed.

He has also welcomed the decision to release the four political officials who had been in detention since December.

Kerry is the US official designated by President Barack Obama to advise the US Treasury Department on which individuals in the government leadership and rebel command to sanction, pursuant to the Executive Order issued 3 April.

He has not yet acted on this authority given to him.

Neither the South Sudanese foreign ministry nor the presidency has yet commented on the call, which took place while Salva Kiir was visiting Ethiopia.  

File photo: US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, 1 November 2013 (White House/Pete Souza) 

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