The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has
deployed additional peacekeepers and launched urgent patrols to two conflict
hotspots following fresh intercommunal violence, which caused the deaths of
civilians, the abduction of women and children, and mass displacement of
vulnerable communities.
In Jonglei, on 26 April, a group of armed youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) launched a significant attack on cattle keepers across the border in Kapoeta East county in Eastern Equatoria.
Efforts are underway to verify the number of casualties, but preliminary
reports indicate a significant number of people were killed, including many women and
children were abducted, and hundreds of cattle stolen.
To help deter further violence, UNMISS sent a special flight to Marwa to support the engagement of the GPAA Chief Administrator with local leaders and the community.
UNMISS urges the GPAA authorities to recover all those abducted and reunite them with their families, as well as to impose rule of law to prevent further incidents.
The mission is supporting this
process and wider efforts to de-escalate tensions. On the Eastern Equatorian
side, UNMISS facilitated a visit to the site of the attack in Kauto payam by
the state governor and other officials to assess the situation, verify
casualties, and help restore calm.
Meanwhile, in Tambura, Western Equatoria, tensions between communities from different ethnic backgrounds are high following a series of incidents, including the killing of civilians, disappearance of a priest who is a member of the Tambura peace committee, and the torching of homes.
As fears of further violence rise, more than 13,000 people have sought
sanctuary at a displacement camp outside an UNMISS temporary base and 4000 have
arrived at another such site in Tambura town.
In response, UNMISS dispatched an additional 76 military peacekeepers to reinforce the Tambura temporary base, protect displaced families, and boost patrols in the surrounding area.
UNMISS is also engaging
with political actors and community leaders at the local and national levels to
reduce tension and restore calm.
“Despite the ongoing fuel blockade, which is threatening
UNMISS’ ability to carry out our work, we are doing our utmost to help protect
civilians caught up in intercommunal conflict and prevent further violence,”
said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS,
Nicholas Haysom.
“We urge the Government to ensure that the UN can continue to work without impediment to help protect civilians, support the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities, and progress the development of institutions, infrastructure, and critical services across the country.”