{{The United States issued a rare criticism of South Sudan on Wednesday, saying the African state was failing to protect civilians in the east where the army is fighting an insurgency.}}<\/p>\n
Western powers have long urged Juba to find a peaceful solution to fighting involving the army, a rebel group and rival tribes in the vast Jonglei state but have so far mostly refrained from criticizing the government.<\/p>\n
A United Nations source said new fighting erupted a week ago between the rival Lou Nuer and Murle tribes in the Pibor area in Jonglei, killing an unknown number of people.<\/p>\n
More violence was expected as armed youths from both sides were amassing forces in the area, the source said. A U.N. team visiting the town said that most civilians had left Pibor, contrary to government figures, the United Nations said in a report.<\/p>\n
The United States, South Sudan’s biggest ally, said it was “deeply disappointed” that the army, or SPLA, had failed to protect civilians in vulnerable areas in Jonglei.<\/p>\n
“The lack of action to protect civilians constitutes an egregious abdication of responsibility by the SPLA and the civilian government,” the U.S. embassy in Juba said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Washington urged the government to prevent “SPLA attacks on U.N. staff and humanitarian assets”. It gave no details but soldiers had looted compounds of U.N. agencies and aid agencies in Pibor in May, according to aid sources.<\/p>\n
Agencies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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