Salva Kiir visits South Africa, denies ethnic cleansing

Record ID: 75012

  • Title: Salva Kiir visits South Africa, denies ethnic cleansing
  • Date: 1st December 2016
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (DECEMBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA CYRIL RAMAPHOSA GREETING SOUTH SUDANESE PRESIDENT SALVA KIIR RAMAPHOSA AND KIIR TALKING VARIOUS OF RAMAPHOSA WALKING WITH KIIR KIIR TALKING RAMAPHOSA AND KIIR POSING FOR PICTURE / PRESIDENTS SHAKING HANDS KIIR WALKING UP STAIRS TALKING TO REUTERS REPORTER (NOT AUDIBLE) MEDIA RAMAPHOSA SPEAKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SAYING: "South Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict, a conflict that has lasted for much longer than we had expected and many people have lost their lives and that is something that is very, very sad. But as to the evidence of the ethnic cleansing, I don't know about." KIIR WALKING INTO BUILDING VARIOUS OF RAMAPHOSA AND KIIR SEATING
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2016 15:57
  • Keywords: Salvar Kiir South Sudan South Africa ethnic cleansing
  • Location: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015B2056V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Sudan's president on Thursday (December 1) denied allegations by the United Nations that ethnic cleansing in the country's conflict is so bad that the stage is set for genocide.
    President Salva Kiir, visiting the South African city of Johannesburg, told Reuters reporter: "There's no such thing in South Sudan. There's no ethnic cleansing". Security guards prevented further questions.
    The head of the U.N. commission of human rights in South Sudan said in a statement on Thursday (December 1) ethnic cleansing is taking place in some areas of the country.
    Yasmin Sooka, said in her statement at the end of a 10-day visit, the stage was set for a repeat of the Rwandan genocide in South Sudan with "starvation, gang rape and the burning of villages".
    Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa Deputy President, speaking after meeting with Kiir, said he was not aware of evidence of ethnic cleansing.
    "South Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict, a conflict that has lasted for much longer than we had expected and many people have lost their lives and that is something that is very, very sad. But as to the evidence of the ethnic cleansing, I don't know about," Ramaphosa said.
    Oil-rich South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011, but rivalry between the president and his deputy broke out into civil war in 2013. They signed a shaky peace deal last year, but fighting and brutal attacks on civilians continue. Much of the violence is along ethnic lines.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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