South Sudan intercepts UN arms shipment
Iran Press TV
Sat Mar 8, 2014 10:45AM GMT
The South Sudanese army has intercepted a "mislabeled" shipment of weapons from a UN peacekeeping mission.
On Friday, an unnamed South Sudanese military official said the shipment had been from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
"This is claimed to be a UN shipment with weapons, blankets and army uniforms on the way from Rumbek to Bentiu," the official said.
The weapons were intercepted because UNMISS shipments are transferred by air and not by road.
"Several containers were labeled wrongly and inadvertently contained weapons and ammunitions. This is regrettable," said UNMISS spokesperson Ariane Quentier.
South Sudanese officials said the government would investigate the situation in Rumbek, capital of the Lakes State.
"We do not know whether these weapons are connected to the rebel activities in the country or not. So, we shall go there and check the documents and it is from there that we shall respond to what UN is saying," said military spokesman Michael Makuei.
The town of Bentiu, the destination of the arms shipment, has been witnessing a high level of fighting.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on March 7 that it would airlift and airdrop food aid to refugees and people in need in the war-torn country.
The backdrop to the turmoil in South Sudan is the battle between government troops loyal to President Salva Kiir, who is from the Dinka ethnic group, and forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar, who is from the Nuer ethnic group.
The clashes initially erupted on the outskirts of the capital, Juba, on December 15, 2013.
The conflict has taken toll on the lives of thousands of people. Reports say nearly 800,000 people in South Sudan have become internally displaced as a result of the violence.
SZH/HSN
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