Talks in Ethiopia fail to end violence in South Sudan

South Sudanese warring factions have failed in their peace talks in Ethiopia following the government’s rejection of rebels’ calls to free political prisoners.

The rebels, led by former vice president and opposition leader Riek Machar, demanded the release of 11 high-profile detainees, but President Salva Kiir reiterated that the prisoners will be released after going through the country’s judicial process.

The disagreement has led to eruption of battle on multiple fronts with rebels fighting their way towards South Sudan’s vast oil fields in the Upper Nile state.

Fierce clashes were also underway between government troops and the rebels near the rebel-held town of Bor, some 120 kilometers north of the capital, Juba.

“Fighting is going on right now in Upper Nile, the rebels are targeting oil fields” said South Sudan military spokesman, Philip Aguer, adding, “The rebels have rejected a ceasefire, what we have to do now is to defend the country.”

The prisoners are accused of spearheading what government describes as “an attempted coup” on December 15, 2013, which sparked the violence.

“We said in the beginning we are committed to dialogue, but without preconditions…. We are now being given conditions that we release political detainees first. This is a condition that I will not accept,” the South Sudan president said on Wednesday.

Less than three years after achieving independence from Sudan, South Sudan is threatened to become a failed state amid power struggle between President Kiir and Machar.