Peace Monitors Demand Immediate Investigation into South Sudan Violence
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 10, peace monitors in South Sudan urged for rapid investigations into violence in Upper Nile State and a UN helicopter attack that killed a UN personnel and numerous soldiers. They condemned the escalation and called for dialogue to restore peace in the region.
Key Takeaways
- RJMEC urges immediate ceasefire and dialogue.
- Violence in Upper Nile State has escalated tensions.
- Over 20 fatalities reported in Nasir.
- International community expresses concern over stability.
- Unity government must act to de-escalate the situation.
Juba, March 10 (NationPress) Peace monitors in South Sudan have urgently called for thorough investigations into the recent violence in Upper Nile State and the assault on a UN helicopter, which resulted in the death of a UN personnel and numerous soldiers.The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has strongly condemned the violence in Upper Nile State and the attack on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) helicopter during an evacuation operation in Nasir County. They urged the conflicting parties to halt hostilities and participate in dialogue to promote peace in the nation.
"RJMEC implores all involved parties to immediately put an end to any additional hostilities, allow for dialogue, and ensure that calm is swiftly reinstated," the monitors stated in a release from Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The clashes in Nasir, a strategically significant town, have heightened tensions since March 3, resulting in the detention of high-ranking government and military officials from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
The global community has voiced significant concerns regarding the recent events in Juba, warning that they jeopardize the fragile unity government established under a 2018 peace agreement which concluded the country's five-year civil war.
Reports indicate that over 20 individuals have been confirmed dead, with several others injured in the outskirts of the now-deserted Nasir, located along the border with Ethiopia, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The RJMEC has implored the unity government to undertake all necessary measures to de-escalate the situation. It also called on the Joint Defence Board, a key entity from the 2018 peace agreement responsible for overseeing all forces, to diligently fulfill its roles and responsibilities regarding the organized forces.
Furthermore, the RJMEC has urged the National Transitional Committee, which oversees the implementation of the 2018 peace deal, to promptly accelerate the unification and deployment of all forces to uphold peace across the country and prevent future incidents.
