The German authorities decided to evacuate 100 German citizens, as well as other nationals from South Sudan, the German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday. "The Security Council took a decision to evacuate German, European and other citizens from South Sudan," Sawsan Chebli said, adding that there are around 100 German citizens. She did not specify the citizenship of other people, citing security requirements. Evacuation, according to Chebli, is related only to diplomats, but not German troops staying in South Sudan. Currently, there are 15 Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, soldiers in South Sudan. An armed ethnic conflict erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, one year and a half after the nation gained independence from Sudan, when President Salva Kiir accused First Vice President Riek Machar of preparing a military coup. Over a million people have fled their home amid the conflict. In August 2015, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal that envisaged the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. Renewed fighting broke out last week. On Monday, both Kiir and Machar ordered their forces to cease hostilities.
