Tens of thousands killed in South Sudan violence

The conflict in South Sudan has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, the United Nations secretary-general says.

Although there is no official death toll for the ongoing conflict in the African country, Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that “tens of thousands” of South Sudanese have died in the violence.

He added that the country’s leaders are prioritizing their “personal ambitions” over the nation’s future.

The conflict broke out in December last year in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and has spread over the country.

According to the UN, the warfare between government and opposition forces has displaced more than 1.9 million people.

Ban urged South Sudan’s leaders to reach a consensus on an inclusive power-sharing arrangement. He also addressed the leaders to identify and overcome the causes of the conflict and take responsibility for the crimes committed in the battleground.

The oil-rich country’s neighboring governments have brokered a number of peace agreements between the two sides. However, the deals have not managed to bring the fighting to a halt.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein also warned about the situation on Monday.

“The people of South Sudan are living in a tinderbox, with emotions high, an abundant flow of weapons and with both sides recruiting fighters, often forcefully and including children,” he said.

In the recent days, government troops and armed youths have been fighting in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.