The United Nations has expressed its «deep concern» over calls for the mobilization of members of the Nuer community in Greater Jonglei and warned that it could lead to «massive attacks» against the population in this area of South Sudan.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement that «these mobilizations have the potential to trigger violent attacks that severely impact civil society» and said that «any upsurge in conflict would undermine the progress towards peace achieved by contacts between leaders in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).»
«The mission appreciates the Government of South Sudan’s proactive contacts with involved youth leaders to de-escalate hostilities and restore calm,» he said, before stressing that «the primary responsibility for protecting civilians rests with the Government.»
In this regard, he stressed that «UNMISS continues to deploy all available resources and make every effort to ensure the safety of the affected populations» and recalled that «similar incidents in the past have resulted in the loss of lives, the abduction of women and children, the displacement of thousands of civilians and the destruction of property».
He therefore called on leaders of the Nuer and Murle communities to «exert a positive and constructive influence on the youth, encouraging them to initiate dialogue and avoid the use of violence as a means of resolving differences».
The UN mission has further called on community leaders to «ensure the release of previously abducted women and children and to proceed with the return of looted livestock to foster reconciliation and respect for fundamental rights.» «UNMISS stands ready to support the respective government authorities and communities to reduce tensions through dialogue and other peaceful means,» it concluded.
South Sudan has a unity government that was launched following the materialization of the 2018 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar, which resulted in the latter returning to the post of first vice president of the African country.
Despite the decrease in violence due to the political conflict, the country has recorded an increase in inter-communal clashes, mainly motivated by cattle rustling and disputes between pastoralists and farmers in the most fertile areas of the country, especially due to the increase in desertification and displacement of populations.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
