S. Sudanese warring parties clash in Unity state: sources
May 12, 2015 (BENTIU) – South Sudan government forces and its armed opposition troops clashed over control of Mayiandit county headquarters in Unity state Tuesday.
“It is true government forces attacked our positions. We are still engaging them in areas south of the county headquarter,” Chuol said.
He said pro-government forces would be repulsed if they attempt to retake any rebel-held area.
“We are expecting some reinforcement from our neighboring counties in some hours to come to help us drive them out of our territory,” said Chuol, without naming these nations.
Recent hostilities between South Sudan’s warring parties in the oil-rich Unity state have displaced over 100,000 people, the United Nations mission in the country (UNMISS) said.
Toby Lanzer, the UN humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan urged the warring factions to immediately cease hostilities, respect innocent civilians and their properties.
The UN, in a statement, said it had credible information indicating numerous towns and villages in Guit and Koch counties in Unity state were reportedly “burned” amid killings, abductions of males as young as 10 years of age, rape and abduction of girls and women and forced displacement of civilians.
“Although it is unclear who committed such atrocities, it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that all civilians are protected, as well as for all parties to ensure that all civilians are protected, as well as for all parties to ensure appropriate command and control of their combatants to prevent the targeting of civilians,” the UN mission in the country said in a statement issued on Monday.
The UN also expressed concerns over what it described as the aggressive behaviour by by South Sudanese soldiers towards UN staff at checkpoints in the country.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced since violence broke out in the country in 2013. Aid agencies say up to 3 million people could face starvation if the conflict in the world’s youngest nation remains unresolved.
The conflict has forced about 120,000 people to seek shelter in UN compounds across the country with projections that the number could reach 293,000 by end of year.
The UN estimates that 13,000 children are associated with armed forces and groups nationwide in South Sudan, with credible evidence reportedly indicating the warring parties have engaged in the recruitment of child soldiers since the conflict began.
Ellen Margrethe Loj, the head of UN mission in the country reminded the warring parties to the conflict of their “obligation to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law” and urged them to take “all measures not to harm civilians and guarantee the safety of international aid organisations and UN personnel and assets.”
“There is no legitimate reason to burn civilian homes, or target civilian girls, boys, women or men through violence, including sexual violence,” Loj said in a statement.
(ST)