UN deplores deadly attacks as tension rises in S. Sudan
July 2, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon has condemned a deadly attack at a ‘protection-of-civilians’ site in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, in the wake of renewed violence between the country’s warring factions.
It was not clear who opened fire in an area contested by both the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and an armed opposition force loyal to militia leader, Gen. Johnson Olony.
Ki-moon reportedly called on former vice president Riek Machar and Olony “to conduct an immediate investigation into this incident and hold to account those responsible.”
“The Secretary-General] reminds the parties that they must respect the inviolability of UNMISS premises, including protection of civilian sites, which are now host to more than 140,000 IDPs,” a spokesperson for the UN chief said in a statement.
The secretary-general, he added, also reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict in South Sudan and that he called on all parties to immediately cease the hostilities and make the necessary compromises to urgently conclude the negotiations facilitated by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
According to the world body, some 120,000 South Sudanese are sheltered in UN compounds while its current estimates suggest that the number of people in need for 2015 will include an anticipated 1.95 million IDPs and a projected 293,000 refugees.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since violence broke out in the country in December 2013, following political disputes in the South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM).
This was not the first time civilians were being attacked within a UN base in South Sudan.
Last month, a UN base inhabiting tens of thousands of the displaced, mainly from the Nuer ethnic group, was attacked in the South Sudanese capital, as many were killed.
(ST)