By William Madouk Garang
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and peace guarantors urge the country’s leadership and the tribal headships to use dialogue to defuse tension and restore peace and tranquillity in greater Jonglei
UNMISS, AUMISS, IGAD, the Troika, EU and R-JMEC showed grave concern over the ongoing violence, loss of life and reports of alleged use of heavy weaponry in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, by armed youth from Jonglei state.
“We call on South Sudanese leaders to urgently intervene to stop the fighting and ensure the safety and security of civilians as well as unimpeded humanitarian access to people affected by the fighting,” partly read a joint statement of UN and partners seen by No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
They stressed the need to investigate and hold accountable all culprits of the conflict, including those who are instigating and inciting violence alongside women and children abductors.
“UNMISS and international partners strongly encourage national politicians and traditional leaders to persuade youth to immediately stop the violence and pursue a dialogue-based approach that focuses on restoring calm and peacefully resolving the root causes of the conflict,” the statement added.
UN Peace mission said the primary responsibility of protecting civilians lies with the transitional government, adding that they will continue to provide all necessary support to protect civilians.
“UNMISS is intensifying patrols in conflict hotspots and closely monitoring the situation, noting that such fighting has in the past led to significant loss of life and large-scale civilian displacement” They noted.
The UN mission and the partners reiterated the call for an immediate cessation of the violence that poses a serious risk to the peace and stability of the South Sudanese people.
They further requested the ceasefire monitoring body (CTSAMVM) to investigate the violence and urged the parties to the conflict to facilitate access.
The escalating violence started on Christmas Eve following an attack by armed youth on the Bich-Bich area in the greater Pibor, following a warning by the UN mission in the country that armed youth in Jonglei State were being mobilized to attack Pibor.
On December 24, the Pibor Administrative Area authority reported that over 50 people had been killed and several others injured.
Youth Coordinator, Kidolya Akol Jiji on Wednesday appealed to the government, humanitarian agencies and the international community to intervene and provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced people.
On Wednesday, Murle Community Youth Association accused the Kitgwang splinter group under rebel commander Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual of backing up the white army to attack civilians in the Pibor areas.
David Ngiro Yangkon, the chairman of MCYA told journalists. said the Jonglei State Authorities organized more than 39,300 SPLA-IO militias in collaboration with 1st Lt-Gen Simon Gatwech Dual commander in chief of the SPLA-IO militia and sent them to greater Pibor to torture the inhabitants.
However, the spokesman of Gatwech, Brig-Gen Alfred Gach Thot denied the accusation.