Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Sunday called for calm in Unity State and urged national and local authorities to take immediate measures to reduce tensions in the state.
This comes after a serious intercommunal fight in Leer County that happened on February 23. In a statement released by UNMISS, several civilians have been killed, injured, and some forced to flee their homes.
“Civilian property was destroyed, and humanitarian supplies were looted. Local health facilities in Leer town reported nine women raped, “the statement read in part.
UNMISS condemned the violence and said it comes at a time when humanitarian needs are rising, and people are already reeling from the effects of the worst flooding in decades.
The fighting has reportedly begun in Mirmir Payam, Unity State, when the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition and armed youth clashed in several villages in Koch, Mayiandit, and Leer.
However, UNMISS has pledged to send teams to the affected areas to assess the situation and document claims of human rights violations and abuses. It also urged the authorities to launch prompt investigations.
“The mission has committed to increasing patrols and working with all stakeholders at the state and national levels, including local authorities and communities, to promote dialogue and alleviate tensions and instability,” the statement said.
They called on the government to prosecute those who instigated and participated in the violence. Last week, The City Review reported that lawmakers representing Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area were demanding the creation of a buffer zone between conflicting communities in Pariang County.
They said the situation had remained tense in the area and that it required immediate intervention from the security forces to prevent potential clashes between Unity and Ruweng residents.
On February 17, the representative of Unity State and Ruweng Administrative Area visited Vice President Taban Deng Gai and discussed ways to end the conflict. The group resolved that security forces must be deployed to quell the conflict.
They also agreed with the vice president to form a delegation that would travel to the area to preach peace to the rival communities and ensure the deceased are buried.
“We are sorry for what happened between communities of Ruweng Administrative Area and Unity State in Pariang, and we have agreed with the Vice President to call on security to create a buffer zone between the two areas,” said Choi Machar, who is a member of the Council of States.
On February 18, authorities in Unity State reported 15 deaths in clashes that were caused by armed youth from Leer and Mayendit counties of Unity State.
State Director-General of Information and Communications Deng Moun Liah told The City Review that the fighting between Leer and Mayendit counties lasted for two days.
“The conflict between the two communities lasted for two days, and it cost nearly 15 lives and wounded 25 people wounded,” Moun said.
Moun said the Mayendit County commissioner confirmed that nine people had been wounded and one death case. Meanwhile, from Leer County, more than 11 people were killed and 15 others were wounded. Moun claimed that the fight was motivated by SPLA-IO rival factions loyal to Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech and Riek Machar.
“We as the government have condemned such confrontations because we are in the process of implementing the peace agreement, and we are urging the SPLA-IO and the Kitgwang groups to refrain from all this violence,” he said.
Moun said the fighting first started between forces loyal to Mr Machar and the SPLA-IO forces of Gatwech. Leer County commissioner, Stephen Taker, accused Mayendit and Koch County commissioners of mobilising youth from their areas to attack Leer and raid their cattle.
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