Nov 17, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed and 400 abducted as violence continues to increase throughout the country.
Speaking in Juba on Tuesday, the UN special representative David Shearer said that violence has soared in recent months between rival communities, often over cattle raiding which leads to cycles of brutal revenge killings.
“More than 1,000 people died in Warrap in the past six months…there are a lot of people who want to go on and carry out revenge attacks for those that have died,” UN special envoy David Shearer said.
Shearer added that in eastern Jonglei, “hundreds” have died in fighting this year “and more than 400 people were abducted”.
“The potential for conflict in Jonglei as a result … is very very high,” said Shearer.
The head of UNMISS said that they will start deploying troops to parts of Jonglei state.
“Over the coming weeks, in cooperation with security services, we will begin deploying peacekeepers to places like Manyabol, Likongule, Duk Padiat, and Waat to set up temporary bases or conduct extended long-distance patrols,”
He added that UNMISS has a responsibility to protect people who need the protection.
“We have a responsibility to protect those who need protection most. That means, we need to locate our troops and staff who facilitate reconciliation and peacebuilding in areas of tension before conflict erupts,” he said.
The UN special envoy called for dialogue between communities adding that UNMISS would deploy peacekeepers to several temporary bases in some of the hotspots for violence.
Observers have warned that the communal violence risked derailing a peace agreement signed in September 2018 to end the war that killed nearly 400,000 people.
Key tenets of the deal, such as the unification of warring forces under one army, remain stuck.
South Sudan is still trying to emerge from six years of conflict that was formally ended when the power-sharing government was created in February.
