UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State

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.

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)