Africa-Press – South-Sudan. There was no case of ceasefire violation by the parties to the revitalized peace agreement in the clashes that rocked parts of Jonglei State and Greater Pibor late last year but warnings were disregarded.
According to a comprehensive report by CTSAMVM, addressed to the interim chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Maj Gen (Rtd) Charles Gituai, the attacks that decimated areas like Likuangole and Gumuruk in Pibor were purely intercommunal.
“CTSAMVM conducted a full investigation of the fighting and has confirmed that there were large-scale attacks on villages near Likuangole between December 24 and 28, 2022,” the report notes, adding the attacks were carried out by community militias from both GPAA and Jonglei.
“There is no evidence of any party to the R-ARCSS involvement in the incidents,” it clarifies.
The CTSAMVM, which is a ceasefire monitoring body, avers that the fighting among the communal warriors led to the widespread loss of lives, the displacement of people, and the abduction of innocent civilians from both sides of the neighbouring regions.
The ceasefire monitor faults the security officers and administrative leaders in GPAA for disregarding the warning earlier issued by the international community and the United Nations agencies prior to the attack.
“There is evidence that state security mechanisms in GPAA were forewarned of the violence, but the events indicate a failure to protect civilians. Early warning systems need to be put in place to prevent any future incidents,” it notes in the report.
The report states that the armed youth from Jonglei attacked a community in GPAA on two occasions: December 22, 2022 and January 4, 2023.
In a span of two days between December 24 and December 26, CTSAMVM states that around 282 casualties were reported from the incident. The number of those injured in the incident overwhelmed the local health facilities like Pibor hospital.
“The scale of violence overwhelmed local medical facilities, and ICRC rendered assistance by evacuating 17 patients to Juba and were processing a further seven at the time of the CTSAMVM visit.”
Last month, President Salva Kiir visited Jonglei State on a mission to launch the highway, where he called for peace. Kiir challenged the residents to drop perennial clashes, retrogressive practices, and abduction to focus on nation building.
“Our problem here in South Sudan is not money; it is the inter-communal fighting that has been going on in many parts of South Sudan,” said Kiir, as he launched the construction of the Bor-Ayod-Malakal-Renk highway.
“I would like to assure you that if you refrain from this inter-communal fighting, there will be a way for development in the country and in Jonglei State.”
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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