Western embassies in South Sudan offer to mediate after clashes

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir together with South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar. [Majak Kuanya, AFP]

The embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Britain, the United States, and the European Union offered on Tuesday to mediate between the leaders of South Sudan as fears of renewed conflict escalated.

In a joint statement, the embassies urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to meet and engage in direct dialogue to restore and maintain peace.

The embassies have also indicated that they are prepared to facilitate their discussion.

"We remain concerned about reports of SSPDF survivors of the Nasir Garrison who have been unable to return to safe locations as well as of continued detentions on Juba of senior officials without charges," the statement read in part.

Tensions have been mounting in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, between forces allied to Kiir and Machar, threatening to undermine a fragile peace-sharing agreement.

On Monday, an air strike by the South Sudanese government in Nasir County killed at least 20 people, including children, area commissioner James Gatluak told AFP.