UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
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August 22, 2011 (JUBA) – Hilde Johnson, the United Nations Special
Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to the newly
established state of South Sudan, on Monday called for an immediate
halt hostilities in Jonglei State.
JPEG - 11.8 kb
Hilde Johnson (UNICEF)
Johnson’s remarks were intended to calm rising tensions in the area
following clashes involving armed youth groups allegedly identified as
members of Murle against the neighboring tribe of Lou Nuer.
Many attribute the fighting to local disputes between the two ethnic
groups that are often associated with cattle theft and rivalry over
water points and grazing areas during dry seasons.
Last June the Lou-Nuer were alleged to have staged similar attacks
against the Murle community in Pibor County burning down houses and
destroying property. It was alleged at the time that the death toll
was in the hundreds.
The top UN official in the country expressed her deep concern about
the violent attacks in recent days and urged the two ethnic groups to
exercise self-restraint. She also called for prioritisation of peace
and reconciliation initiatives between the two communities as a means
to address the conflict.
Akot Mzee, the Pibor County commissioner in a phone interview with
Sudan Tribune on Monday was unable to confirm that the attack was
carried out by members of his community.
“I have heard of the attack. The governor with other state officials
have informed me about it ... I do not have sufficient evidence to
confirm that [our] youths were involved" Mzee said.
“The attack may have been carried out by unorganised groups who may or
may not be members of Murle community. I do not have such
information," he added.
“There are criminals roaming about between the two communities. So, I
cannot confirm unless they are identified and held”, the official
said.
Johnson said UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) had received reports
from the state authorities that over 600 people had been killed. She
said there were unconfirmed reports that between 750 and 985 people
had been wounded.
“Local reports received by the UNMISS suggest that between 26,000 and
30,000 cattle were stolen during the attacks and many homes have been
destroyed" she said.
“State authorities have also informed UNMISS that over 250,000 people
have been displaced by the fighting in Pieri, Matot and Pulchol
villages in Uror County, Jonglei state, and nearly 200 people may have
been abducted”, said Johnson in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune
on Monday by her office.
“This cycle of violence must stop. That so many people have been
killed and injured again in such wanton destruction is unacceptable. I
urge restraint by both sides of this tragic conflict”, reads part of
the statement.
The UN official said reconciliation efforts are now urgently needed
and that UNMISS is willing and ready to support such a process to this
effect.
Aleem Saddique, spokesman of the mission, in an interview with Sudan
Tribune on Monday in Juba, equally expressed his concern over the
situation and expressed readiness of UNMISS to assist the government
of South Sudan in all efforts to strengthen peace and reconciliation
initiatives.
“As you may have read from the statement made by Special
Representative of the UN Secretary General to the Republic of South
Sudan, the UNMISS assessment and verification team has visited the
conflict affected area on Friday and return to Juba. Another team is
already on the ground and will return to Juba with findings in order
to offer its support to State Authorities to facilitate reconciliation
efforts and prevent a further escalation of the violence”, Saddique
explained.
The first UN team to visit the area found that 58 people had died but
acknowledged there were many other areas to visit.
Saddique quoted the Special Representative of the Secretary General as
underscoring that “the security of all South Sudanese people must come
first and that UNMISS will assist all relevant stakeholders in
preventing further violence causing so much unnecessary suffering".
“The mission stands ready to use its military assets to try to deter
further escalation. Moreover, I want to condemn the attack on
humanitarian facilities which have been destroyed and looted. The
humanitarian impartiality of such facilities must be respected by
all.”
A group of officials from Jonglei told Sudan Tribune that the clashes
in Uror county had resulted in 640 deaths, 861 people sustaining
injuries, the kidnap of 208 children, the arson of 7,924 houses and
the theft of 38,000 heads of cattle.
A high proliferation of small arms among the population left over from
the civil war and a cycle of tit for tat cattle raids have blighted
South Sudan for the duration of six year long Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, which ended with South Sudan’s independence on July 9.
Between January and July this year over 330 violent incidents have
resulted in the deaths of 2,368 people in South Sudan according to the
UN.
(ST)
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