China called on Friday for an end to conflict in South Sudan where fighting has caused thousands of people to flee from their homes and prompted warnings to oil companies to shut down operations.
China is a major investor in South Sudan’s oil industry and has played an unusually active diplomatic role there, sending peacekeepers as part of a U.N. mission to protect civilians.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was “gravely concerned” about the situation.
China has called on the parties in South Sudan to use the fundamental and long-term interests of the people of South Sudan as a starting point, immediately stop military conflict to ensure the safety of South Sudan’s foreign workers and personnel working for the U.N., humanitarian and aid agencies,” Hong said at a regular news briefing.
Reuters reported that four people were killed this week when two mortar bombs hit a U.N. compound and a site housing civilians in the town of Melut near South Sudan’s Paloch oilfields.
Hong further said that South Sudan’s oilfields were an important resource for development of the country and that both parties ought to protect them.
He urged the parties to make a political decision an reach an agreement as soon as possible.
He urged all parties concerned to “make a political decision” and reach a settlement as soon as possible.
South Sudanese rebels said on Tuesday they had captured a refinery near a major oilfield in Upper Nile State.
Aid groups have recently pulled out of battle zones, leaving thousands of people in need as rebel forces fight for control of the country’s crucial oil fields.
Aid groups have recently pulled out of battle zones, leaving thousands of people in need as rebel forces fight for control of the country’s crucial oil fields.
The fighting in the young nation has killed more than 10,000 people, and caused millions to flee the country.
