By William Madouk Garang
The Ceasefire monitoring body – CTSAMVM has said it has investigated the recent bloody fighting in southern parts of Unity state that resulted into killings and displacement of thousands of civilians.
The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) said though clashes have dwindled, the parties continued to trade accusations of attack intentions.
According to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) report, 72 civilians been killed between February 17 and April 17 in Leer County of Unity state and girls and women were subjected to sexual abuses.
Addressing the board meeting on Tuesday, the chairperson of CTSAMVM, Lt-Gen Asrat Denero Amad said, CTSAMVM had investigated Unity state incidences where are going to be presented soon.
“We submitted a preliminary report dated 22 April 2022 which discussed the violence which occurred from February to April and resulted in the death of people. CTSAMVM further investigated these incidents since the last Board meeting and a report is going to be presented,”Amad said.
“The violence also resulted in the looting and destruction of properties and to girls and women being subjected to multiple forms of SGBV. All this caused the displacement of civilians,” he added.
General Amad stressed that latest fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states between the two forces of peace partners has undermined efforts to achieve permanent ceasefire and put people live at risk.
“We remain very concerned about reports of continued tensions between the Parties in Unity and Upper Nile States that severely strain the peace process and put the lives of many innocent civilians at risk,” he lamented.
CTSAMVM further stressed that since last board meeting there have been allegations of suspected National Salvation Front (NAS) activities including ambushes of Sudan People Defense Force and civilians in Central and Western Equatoria states.
“CTSAMVM urges the Parties to respect and abide by the permanent ceasefire in the R-ARCSS refrain from any violence and cease all hostile acts against each other,” he stated.
In April 2022, armed men suspected to be from the neighboring areas; allegedly attacked Leer County, burned villages, looted properties and displaced 13 thousands to several villages.
The conflict which started as an SPLA-IO factional fighting in Mirmir, allegedly took another dimension as armed youth took advantage of the situation to raid and loot.
That however, prompted President Salva Kiir established a six-member committee headed by minister of Water Resources, Manawa Peter to investigate the insecurity situation in Leer County of Unity State.