UNISFA condemns targeted “fake” social media news

May 28, 2022 (ABYEI) – The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has dismissed as “false” social media reports alleging two of its staff from the Twic community were dragged out of the mission headquarters, beaten, tortured and stabbed, sustaining severe injuries under their watch.

“The attention of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is drawn to the Facebook post published by Juba Tukul on 26 May 2022 alleging that two UNISFA staff from the Twic community were dragged out of the mission Headquarters, beaten, tortured, and stabbed, sustaining severe injuries under the watch of UNISFA peacekeepers,” UNISFA said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

The post, according to UNISFA, was “not only false and sensational but does not represent the facts of the incident that happened on that day”.

“While it is true that there was a misunderstanding involving two Twic Dinka staff mentioned in the post and a group of Ngok Dinka personnel working with one of UNISFA’s contractors, the incident took place within the mission compound and not outside,” the statement further noted.

It added, “Moreover, none of the Twic Dinka staff was stabbed with a knife as alleged in the post”.

The Force Commander of the UN mission reportedly visited and interacted with the two Twic Dinka UNISFA personnel involved in the incident and that narration of what transpired was far from the information contained in the post.

“The affected staff are doing well, while UNISFA security is investigating the incident. UNISFA as a mission, and the United Nations in general, has zero tolerance for fighting within its premises and UNISFA will not hesitate to take necessary disciplinary measures based on the result of the investigation by its security division,” further states the peacekeeping mission’s statement.

Meanwhile, UNISFA expressed concerns over the growing prevalence of fake news, misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda in the Abyei Box on social media, particularly against UNISFA and its personnel.

“We call upon all stakeholders to cooperate with UNISFA in its efforts in ensuring that peace prevails in the Abyei area,” it stressed, urging the public to seek clarification on matters affecting the mission through its spokesperson.

UNISFA is a UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, an area contested between South Sudan and neighbouring Sudan.

(ST)