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In Pictures: South Sudan cease-fire

Rival politicians signed a deal on Thursday to end violence, but many worry fighting could continue.

President Salva Kiir announced the recapture of the city of Malakal at a press conference in Juba on Monday.
By Emre Rende
Published On 25 Jan 2014

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The government of South Sudan and rebels loyal to Riek Mashar on Thursday evening signed a long awaited cease-fire agreement in Addis Ababa ending almost 6 weeks of bitter fighting across the country.

US President Barack Obama, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council all welcomed the news, but many, both in the world’s youngest nation and abroad, are worried the killing could continue.

Since hostilities began in the capital Juba on December 15th, thousands in South Sudan have been killed and half a million civilians have been forced to flee the fighting between government troops and rebels forces composed of army defectors and the Nuer militia known as the “White Army”, named so due to the Nuer practice of smearing one’s skin with a light-coloured ash as a protection against biting insects.

What started out as a political power struggle between the two men quickly escalated into a full-scale conflict, which has at times had tribal undertones. Human rights groups have reported atrocities committed by both sides, including mass killings, summary executions, sexual violence and the recruitment of child soldiers.

Security was on high alert during the Minister of Defence(***)s first trip to Malakal since the SPLA recaptured the town.
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With the help of UPDF, the SPLA has in the last week made important gains on the battlefield.
The UN has accused both sides of recruiting child soldiers, something the government strongly denies.
Rebels still control large areas of the countryside.
Victories in Bor and Malakal strenghtened the government(***)s negotiating hand in Addis Ababa.
Much of the city centre has been looted and burned down.
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Many people in South Sudan are still reluctant to return to their homes.
Army spokesman Philip Aguer said on Monday that the rebels (***)were flushed out of the town(***) and Malakal was (***)finally in the hands(***) of South Sudanese troops again.
Salva Kiir(***)s government has urged citizens to start returning home.
Some 200 civilians drowned in a Nile ferry accident while fleeing fighting in Malakal last Sunday.
Rebel forces staged an attack last week to seize Malakal, which is the gateway to the oilfields of the Upper Nile region.
The town of Malakal changed hands numerous times before government forces finally got the upper hand on January 20th.
Doctors in Malakal called for antibiotics and surgeons to be sent from the capital Juba.