African Diplomats and UN Advocate for Dialogue in South Sudan
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Synopsis
On March 21, the African Diplomatic Corps and UNMISS called for dialogue and mediation to address escalating security challenges in South Sudan, stressing the importance of civilian safety and urging restraint among conflicting parties.
Key Takeaways
- African diplomats and UNMISS emphasized the need for dialogue.
- Restraint is crucial to de-escalate tensions in conflict-affected regions.
- Recent airstrikes in Nasir have caused civilian casualties.
- Hate speech and misinformation could worsen the conflict.
- Political tensions persist between President Kiir and Vice President Machar.
Juba, March 21 (NationPress) The African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have urged all parties involved in the South Sudan conflict to engage in dialogue and mediation as a means to tackle the growing security challenges.
The diplomats and UNMISS representatives have also emphasized the need for restraint and de-escalation of tensions, especially in the regions of Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Upper Nile, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
"The ADC and UNMISS prioritize the safety of citizens affected by these conflicts and call upon all factions to refrain from actions that jeopardize civilian safety and security," they stated in a collective declaration released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Wednesday evening.
This statement comes in light of recent reports detailing a new series of airstrikes targeting the volatile town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, where the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Ugandan Peoples' Defence Force reportedly executed another offensive on the area.
The airstrikes in Nasir have resulted in civilian casualties, according to the UN, which has raised alarms over rampant hate speech and the spread of mis/disinformation, indicating that the conflict might take on an ethnic dimension.
With tensions escalating between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition announced on Monday its decision to suspend participation in some of the critical security frameworks until the government releases their detained members.
The African diplomats and the UN mission commended the public declaration made by Kiir to avert a return to war and called on the unity government to take swift action to avert a resurgence of violence.
