South Sudan urges UNISFA to contain renewed Twic-Abyei conflict
May 9, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Monday urged the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to cooperate and contain the renewed clashes between communities in Twic County and the Abyei area.
“The committee urges UNISFA to cooperate in the quest for stability and support the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement”, partly reads a statement issued by the South Sudanese Investment minister, Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol.
The official’s statement came in the wake of the resumption of hostilities between the two sides in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement likely to jeopardize ongoing efforts and commitment to peaceful dialogue.
Wol, who is currently the secretary of the fact-finding committee appointed by President Salva Kiir in February, said the committee called on all parties to use restraint and renew their commitment to a viable ceasefire.
The committee strongly condemned the resumption of clashes and reminds the parties of their obligations stipulated in the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on April 4 2022.
The South Sudanese minister’s statement further explains that the cessation of hostilities agreement prevents any activity regarding the border claims until the national government addresses the matter.
The committee calls on the parties to cease hostilities and recommit themselves, saying its leadership has been closely monitoring the situation on the ground and in communication with actors on both sides to avert escalation of the situation.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Monday, the Twic County commissioner, Deng Tong, explained that his office has documented several violations since the cessation of hostilities was signed with the rival community.
According to the local area official, from February 10th to 11th 2022, confrontations resulted in the loss of 15 lives and 18 others were wounded.
A child on his way to Anthony was reportedly among those killed five days.
A separate incident occurred on April 3, prior to the signing of the cessation of hostilities deal with Ngok Dinka when Tong Deng Anyuon-Aweng Payam and Kiir Goch Deng Kiir from Akoc Payam were killed inside Abyei town.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the resumption of hostilities between the two communities after Twic County and Abyei Special Administration signed the Cessation of Hostility Agreement in Aweil, Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.
On February 10, 2022, President Kiir appointed a fact-finding committee led by the Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdel Bagi Akol to investigate the communal fight that broke out in Aneet town between Twic and Ngok Dinka of Abyei.
(ST)