US condemns seizure of UN barge by S. Sudanese rebels
November 1, 2014 (JUBA) – The United States has expressed deep concerns over confirmed reports that South’s Sudan armed opposition forces (SPLM/IO) detained a United Nations mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) barge that was traveling on the Nile River to resupply the UN base in the oil-rich Upper Nile state on 26 October.
On Wednesday last week, the UN mission reported that its barges from Malakal to Renk were captured by the opposition forces under the command of Lieutenant Gen. Johnson Olony and held hostage a crew composed of its contingent from Bangladesh.
The barges were detained while moving along the River Nile in Kaka area of Manyo county, which is within the ethnic Shilluk kingdom territory.
The incident nearly caused a row between UNMISS and the SPLM-IO, with the international community calling on the opposition to release the barges.
“We are additionally troubled by the provocative nature of this action at a time when both government and opposition forces should be respecting the ceasefire and working jointly to implement the peace agreement,” said Kirby.
The US also expressed concerns by reports of fighting by both the opposition and the government in Unity state, where the humanitarian crisis has reportedly worsened in recent months with some 30,000 people in the State facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and the likelihood of famine occurring in South Sudan if urgent assistance is not provided.
“We call on both sides to adhere immediately to the ceasefire and to allow for free and unfettered access by UN and humanitarian personnel, so that they are able to reach populations in need,” further stressed the US official.
However, the armed opposition faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar said they released militarised UN barges which they detained on Tuesday while carrying weapons and troops belonging to the UN mission across its territories in Upper Nile.
(ST)