Peace monitors demand accountability over Upper Nile state violence
March 8, 2025 (JUBA) – The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has strongly condemned the violence in Upper Nile State and the abhorrent March 7 attack on a United Nations mission helicopter during an evacuation mission in Nasir County.
A South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) commander, Gen. David Majur Dak and a UN crew member died in the incident that occurred during the evacuation mission on Friday morning.
The UN helicopter was deployed to evacuate SSPDF soldiers and their commander, who were stranded in Nasir following clashes between SSPDF and the White Army, an armed youth group.
Several forces to the Parties to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) lost their lives, with many others sustaining serious injuries.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the peace monitoring body urged all the parties involved to immediately cease any further hostilities, give dialogue a chance and ensure calm is quickly restored.
“In this regard, the Commission appeals to the Presidency of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to take all necessary actions to further de-escalate the situation. The Commission further urges the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to deligently exercise its command and control functions and responsibilities over all the organised forces,” it stated.
The Commission further urged the National Transitional Committee (NTC) to expeditiously fastrack the unification and deployment of all forces to maintain peace throughout the country to avert the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
“With barely two weeks into the extended Transitional Period, violations of the Permanent Ceasefire threaten the gains made over the past seven years since the Revitalized Peace Agreement was signed, and undermines confidence among South Sudan people, regional and international community,” it further stressed. .
Meanwhile RJMEC urged the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), to undertake a verification mission to the area, and provide a detailed report with recommendations.
(ST)