By Deng Ghai Deng
Ceasefire Monitoring Body has condemned recent violent clashes in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, and the tragic killing of civilians in Wonduruba Payam, Central Equatoria State.
Chairperson of the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), Maj Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, voiced during a technical committee meeting, on Tuesday,
He urged parties signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (RARCSS) to seek peaceful resolutions to prevent further escalations.
Early this month, armed men in military uniform ambushed, picked, and killed 24 people, including 19 civilians in cool blood in Wonduruba Administrative Area and Ganji Payam of Central Equatoria State.
The incidents involved attacks and counter-attacks between former members of the National Salvation Front (NAS).
On the 12 of October, at least 20 people were killed and 38 others wounded during intense inter-communal fighting in Tonj North County of Warrap State.
The violence erupted between two sections of the Lou community in Alebek Payam, triggered by criminal elements who had returned to the area and incited armed youth to clash.
Last week, fresh clashes were also reported in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, which resulted in the deaths of 17 people—including four civilians.
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) clarified that violent incident was not a targeted attack on civilians but stemmed from a personal dispute involving two soldiers.
Bitew highlighted that the Nasir incident marks the second report of clashes in Nasir County this year, with the latest skirmishes occurring on October 16 and 17, 2024.
“Despite ongoing de-escalation efforts, the area remains highly volatile, and a significant trust deficit must be addressed through genuine confidence-building measures if all parties are to coexist peacefully,” he stated.
The chairperson also noted an attack on the Bebeto bus travelling along the Juba to Nimule road, emphasizing the need for immediate action to improve security conditions.
Bitew called for the prioritization of deploying Unified Forces to meet civil society expectations and enhance stability.
He asserted that the extension period offers the Transitional Government a crucial opportunity to implement essential security arrangements for a free and fair electoral process.
“CTSAMVM is ready to fulfil its mandate and collaborate with partners to report on the implementation status of the Permanent Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements,” Bitew added.
CTSAMVM is the multinational body that monitors compliance with the South Sudan peace agreement signed in 2018. CTSAMVM has Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) located in 9 of the most conflict-affected areas in South Sudan.