By VOA
27 December, 2013
From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.
The government of South Sudan has told its soldiers to stop fighting government opponents. The move is part of an effort to end violence that began after a dispute between the country's president and former vice-president.
The government's announcement came after leaders of other countries in the area met to urge the two sides to stop the violence. A spokesman for South Sudan's Foreign Ministry told VOA on Friday that the government's cease-fire will begin immediately. It gave the government's opponents three days to answer the call for a cease-fire.
In this photo released by the Kenyan Presidential Press Service, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, left, speaks during the meeting on the situation in South Sudan, held at State House, Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. On the right is Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn (AP Photo/Kenyan Presidential Press Service) |
Violence began in the capital Juba on December 15th and quickly spread across the country after a dispute between President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar -- his main political competitor. In July, Mr. Kiir dismissed his cabinet, including Mr. Machar. Tensions had been rising since then, but fighting began only when Mr. Kiir accused Mr. Machar of planning to overthrow the government. Mr. Machar denied the claim.
The fighting surprised many observers. From the time South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, many feared that the new country would be at war with Sudan, the country from which it won independence. Instead, South Sudan is at war with itself.
The fighting has divided the military in some areas, and has increased ethnic tensions. Some members of President Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group have been fighting with Mr. Machar’s ethnic group -- the Nuer.
The foreign ministry said government soldiers have taken control of Malakal -- the capital of Upper Nile state -- after days of fierce battles.
Leaders of East African countries meeting in Nairobi on Friday welcomed the South Sudanese government’s decision to end the fighting. They called on Mr. Machar and others to do the same.
Both Mr. Machar and Mr. Kiir have agreed to meet. But the government has rejected Mr. Machar's demands that the government release his supporters, who were jailed in the early days of the crisis.
At the meeting in Nairobi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the detained political leaders should be included in talks to end the crisis.
South Sudan army soldiers hold their weapons as they ride on a truck in Bor, Dec. 25, 2013. |
"The detainees are part of South Sudan's leadership and as such are part of the solution. South Sudan's legal system must process them as it should while they are treated humanely and quickly enabled to be an integral part of the dialogue that will solve the underlying political problems that have brought us to this unfortunate crisis."
Mr. Kenyatta also urged the African Union, the United Nations and other countries to promise more support for South Sudan. And he said leaders of other East African nations would not accept what he called the "unconstitutional overthrow" of South Sudan's democratically-elected government.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says he supports Mr. Kiir.
"It should be underscored that the legitimate government of South Sudan under President Salva Kiir Mayardit is the duly elected representative of the people of South Sudan and it has every responsibility to restore peace and stability throughout the country."
The United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people have been killed in violence across the country since the middle of December. It says more than 50,000 people have fled to UN bases. The UN hopes to send more peacekeepers to the country within a few days. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the crisis cannot be ended using troops.
East African leaders called on all sides in the conflict to meet before the end of the year.
And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English. I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.
這里是美國之音慢速英語新聞報道。
The government of South Sudan has told its soldiers to stop fighting government opponents. The move is part of an effort to end violence that began after a dispute between the country's president and former vice-president.
南蘇丹政府已經(jīng)命令其部隊?;穑伺e是為了結(jié)束始于該國總統(tǒng)和前副總統(tǒng)之間爭端的暴力的一部分。
The government's announcement came after leaders of other countries in the area met to urge the two sides to stop the violence. A spokesman for South Sudan's Foreign Ministry told VOA on Friday that the government's cease-fire will begin immediately. It gave the government's opponents three days to answer the call for a cease-fire.
南蘇丹政府的宣告發(fā)生在該地區(qū)其它國家領(lǐng)導人舉行會晤督促雙方停止暴力之后。南蘇丹外交部發(fā)言人周五對美國之音表示,政府將很快開始?;?。它給了政府反對派三天時間回應(yīng)?;鸬暮粲?。
Violence began in the capital Juba on December 15th and quickly spread across the country after a dispute between President Salva Kiir and former vice president Riek Machar -- his main political competitor. In July, Mr. Kiir dismissed his cabinet, including Mr. Machar. Tensions had been rising since then, but fighting began only when Mr. Kiir accused Mr. Machar of planning to overthrow the government. Mr. Machar denied the claim.
暴力于12月15日在首都朱巴爆發(fā),并在總統(tǒng)薩爾瓦·基爾(Salva Kiir)和他的主要政治對手、前副總統(tǒng)里克·馬沙爾(Riek Machar)的爭端之后迅速蔓延到全國各地。今年7月,基爾總統(tǒng)解散了內(nèi)閣,其中就包括馬沙爾。緊張局勢自那時已經(jīng)升溫,但直到基爾先生指控馬沙爾先生策劃推翻政府后戰(zhàn)爭才開始爆發(fā)。馬沙爾先生否認了這一說法。
The fighting surprised many observers. From the time South Sudan became an independent country in 2011, many feared that the new country would be at war with Sudan, the country from which it won independence. Instead, South Sudan is at war with itself.
這次戰(zhàn)爭讓許多觀察人士感到意外。自從2011年南蘇丹成為一個獨立國家以來,許多人擔心,這個新的國家會和自己從中獨立出來的蘇丹發(fā)生戰(zhàn)爭。但與此相反,南蘇丹陷入了內(nèi)戰(zhàn)。
The fighting has divided the military in some areas, and has increased ethnic tensions. Some members of President Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group have been fighting with Mr. Machar’s ethnic group -- the Nuer.
這次戰(zhàn)爭已經(jīng)使得軍隊在某些領(lǐng)域產(chǎn)生分歧,并加劇了種族緊張關(guān)系。基爾總統(tǒng)所屬的丁卡部落的一些成員和馬沙爾先生的努爾部落一直在戰(zhàn)斗。
The foreign ministry said government soldiers have taken control of Malakal -- the capital of Upper Nile state -- after days of fierce battles.
外交部表示,經(jīng)過數(shù)天激烈的戰(zhàn)斗,政府軍已經(jīng)控制了上尼羅州的首府馬拉卡勒。
Leaders of East African countries meeting in Nairobi on Friday welcomed the South Sudanese government’s decision to end the fighting. They called on Mr. Machar and others to do the same.
東非國家領(lǐng)導人周五在內(nèi)羅畢會晤,對蘇丹政府停火的決定表示歡迎。他們呼吁馬沙爾先生及其他人做出同樣的決定。
Both Mr. Machar and Mr. Kiir have agreed to meet. But the government has rejected Mr. Machar's demands that the government release his supporters, who were jailed in the early days of the crisis.
馬沙爾和基爾都已經(jīng)同意會談。但政府拒絕了馬沙爾要求政府釋放其支持者的要求,這些人在危機初期被拘。
At the meeting in Nairobi, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the detained political leaders should be included in talks to end the crisis.
在內(nèi)羅畢的會議上,肯尼亞總統(tǒng)烏呼魯·肯雅塔(Uhuru Kenyatta)表示,被拘政治領(lǐng)袖應(yīng)該參與談判以結(jié)束危機。
"The detainees are part of South Sudan's leadership and as such are part of the solution. South Sudan's legal system must process them as it should while they are treated humanely and quickly enabled to be an integral part of the dialogue that will solve the underlying political problems that have brought us to this unfortunate crisis."
他說,“被拘者是南蘇丹領(lǐng)導層的一部分,也是解決方案的一部分。南蘇丹的法律制度必須處理他們,這是它的職責。而他們受到人道待遇,并很快成為對話的一個組成部分,將解決把我們帶到這一不幸危機的根本性政治問題。”
Mr. Kenyatta also urged the African Union, the United Nations and other countries to promise more support for South Sudan. And he said leaders of other East African nations would not accept what he called the "unconstitutional overthrow" of South Sudan's democratically-elected government.
肯雅塔先生還督促非洲聯(lián)盟、聯(lián)合國和其它國家承諾給南蘇丹更多支持。他說,其它東非國家領(lǐng)導人不會接受他所謂的“違憲推翻”南蘇丹民選政府。
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn says he supports Mr. Kiir.
埃塞爾比亞總理海爾馬里亞姆·德薩萊尼(Hailemariam Desalegn)表示他支持基爾先生。
"It should be underscored that the legitimate government of South Sudan under President Salva Kiir Mayardit is the duly elected representative of the people of South Sudan and it has every responsibility to restore peace and stability throughout the country."
他說,“應(yīng)該強調(diào)指出,基爾總統(tǒng)領(lǐng)導下的南蘇丹合法政府是南蘇丹人民正式選出的代表,它有責任恢復全國的和平和穩(wěn)定。”
The United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people have been killed in violence across the country since the middle of December. It says more than 50,000 people have fled to UN bases. The UN hopes to send more peacekeepers to the country within a few days. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the crisis cannot be ended using troops.
據(jù)聯(lián)合國估計,自12月中旬以來,超過1千人在全國各地的暴力中被殺,超過5萬人逃到了聯(lián)合國基地。聯(lián)合國希望幾天內(nèi)派遣更多維和部隊進入該國。聯(lián)合國秘書長潘基文日前表示,這次危機不能使用武力來結(jié)束。
East African leaders called on all sides in the conflict to meet before the end of the year.
東非國家領(lǐng)導人呼吁沖突各方在今年年底前舉行會談。