US and EU Urge South Sudan to Free Vice President

Several European nations and the United States have raised concern about the continued detention of South Sudan’s First Vice President Riek Machar and other high ranking opposition officials, and asked authorities to release them to facilitate negotiations.

Six embassies, including Germany and the UK, said they were concerned “over continued politically driven violence in South Sudan, repeated violations of the ceasefire, and the absence of visible efforts by the transitional government to restore and maintain peace,” according to a joint statement.