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.
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.
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DOOR
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Where is Salva Kiir’s statement over this tragedy?
Nhomlawda
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
We have SPLA and Police and people are still slaughtering themselves like dogs and chickens.
We have Ministry of Disaster Management but man made disasters are still ocurring at alarming rate.
We have Peace Commission and people do not enjoy peace throughout South Sudan.
Something needs to be done, somebody somewhere might be sleeping on the job.
jamuse
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Kiir can do nothing with Murle and lou Nuer because they like raiding and stealing of other people properties.Let them face consequences of fighting.This time Nuer should not cry,It is time for them to releaze what they did to Murle in June.Uror will be like Sodom and Gomorah if lou Nuer don,t change the habit of stealing cattle and killing people aimlessly .
panda
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Ms Jonson you are absolutely right but no one is going listen to your word because the government of South Sudan is after money to put them in to their pockets,they don’t care about their people life,this is very simple things to be done at the first place to maintain security,is matter of government get in to those villages and make disarms people.
jamuse
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Both tribe refused last year to cooperate in disarment exercise.So leave them alone with their weapons.SPLA can not do any thing when tribes fail to surrender guns.Both were ready to fight SPLA and the plan was archived. Lou -Nuer Fought SPLA leaving over 60 Soldiers killed and many others where wounded in 2006 disarment campaign .The same Lou Nuer were responsible for that disaster.
Again ROSS can look in to this issue seriousely may be our enemy is still supplying gangs and militias.
Land-of-Cush
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
If the president Kiir doesn’t care about the life of citizens’ does he the good leader? I never see any reaction from him when there is any death around the country. Dr. Riek Machar has been trying six years ago running to Great Bhar el Gazel, Upper Nile, Jonglei etc. but the people of south Sudan have been looking at him thinking that he was competing for leadership while he is a man that care about single life with in country. Now he is relaxing and looking after his family after independent achievement that he have committed to happen. Since he is relaxing there is no complain about him.
Ajok Garang
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Year people die and the governement just ignore say its just cattle raiders but when you look at it its different from the civil act and the government with some wrong does in the parliamnent must answer that …if the governemnt still continue ignoring ,then genocide is not far from now beacuse the affected gruop will revenge which will be so bad ….stealing children is something very inhumane specially the murle love stealing children in all Jonglei state not even cattle.
Fighter
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Where was UN when nearly 1000 innocent Murle civilians were masscred last June by Low Nuer,including women and children. At that attack it took them three weeks to abduct children and girls plus thousands of cows. The UN and Kiir were both silent and they don’t care. But now see when 58 Nuer were killed in revenge, just within two days, the world was turned upside down. Does that mean that even the UN is against Murle people who are being falsely accused by Dinka and Nuer, especially when there is nobody from the Murle to respond
dingdong
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
Nhomlawda,
Nothing else can we say because you said it all. Comparing before and after, South Sudan was better before CPA. A government is not just government because we a president, the ministers, and the money.Take charge and citizens would see it there is something powerful than they think they are. It has been three to four years since that particular state have been had the most tribal conflict than any other state in South Sudan, but the so-called government never even try to solve the problem. It’s busy with militians.Remember,this tribal conflicts could produce militians if government doesn’t have control over them.It;s a nature that things can happened but government has to responded in a very professional and take charge of the situation.You cannot just protect only the place where you live and you call it, government for the people.It’s just stupid. Show me your leadership, don’t show me your money.
syklops1
UN Special Representative calls for ending hostilities in Jonglei State
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