South Sudan has seen more fighting than peace since winning independence from Sudan. (AFP)
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors Sunday on renewed fighting in the capital of South Sudan, as former rebels and government soldiers exchanged fire in several parts of Juba.
On the way into the meeting, Britain's deputy permanent representative Peter Wilson said it was essential to "unequivocally condemn the violence happening in Juba and ensure the UN mission has the strong backing of the Security Council (and) make sure that we are working very closely with the region to make sure the violence stops."
"We have called for an arms embargo, this situation underlines the need for that," he added.
France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre also voiced dismay.
"We are extremely worried about the situation... it is a result of a lack of political will on the side of the parties... The key word is pressure, to urge the parties to take their responsibilities."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier he was "shocked and appalled" by the fighting between government and former rebel forces in Juba, and urged both sides to halt the violence.
South Sudan has seen more fighting than peace since winning independence from Sudan in July 2011. Civil war broke out in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his vice president Riek Machar of plotting a coup.
An August 2015 peace deal was supposed to end the conflict. But the peace process has stalled while fighting has continued despite the establishment of a unity government.
This week's clashes are the first between the army and former rebels in the capital -- where the war broke out -- since both established positions there in April as part of the peace agreement.
"This senseless violence is unacceptable and has the potential of reversing the progress made so far in the peace process," Ban said.
South Sudan's leaders must take "decisive action" to restore security in Juba and keep the violence from spreading to other parts of the country, Ban said.
The violence comes a day after the world's youngest country marked its fifth independence anniversary.
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