South Sudanese 'women's bloc' representative from the recently concluded peace talks in Addis Ababa has decried reports of clashes between government troops and opposition fighters in spite of a permanent ceasefire.

Mary Akech, coordinator of the women's bloc at the peace talks, said at an event on Saturday in Juba that women in South Sudan are still suffering from the ongoing war. Mary further highlighted that the two warring parties signed a peace deal last August, but there are still clashes going on in different parts of South Sudan.

“Women, children and wounded people are suffering. So we call on our government to see where the problem is. The clashes should stop because peace has come, if there is somebody who does not adhere to peace, he should be monitored by the international community,” she said.

She called on the IGAD mediators to put pressure on the government and rebels to implement the peace agreement and hold whoever violates the agreement countable.

Fighting in Unity State

Meanwhile, the armed opposition led by former vice president Riek Machar said forces loyal to President Kiir attacked their positions on Saturday and Sunday in violation of the permanent ceasefire.

James Gatdet Dak, Riek Machar’s spokesman, said in a press statement that the government attacked their forces in Guit county of Unity State

Separately, a workshop on permanent ceasefire and security arrangements kicked off on Saturday in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

For his part, Michael Makuei, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said the meeting would help them work out the ceasefire terms as per the IGAD-Plus compromise peace agreement.

File photo: Peace protesters in Juba