UN sends out extra peacekeepers in the midst of new community fighting in South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS, announced on Tuesday that it had started urgent patrols and sent out more peacekeepers in response to recent outbreaks of intercommunal violence in the states of Western and Eastern Equatoria.

This followed an attack on Kapoeta East County in Eastern Equatoria State on April 26 by armed Murle youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), which resulted in the murder of citizens, the kidnapping of women and children, and the widespread displacement of vulnerable populations.

The UNMISS said in a statement released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, “Efforts are underway to verify the number of casualties, but preliminary reports indicate that a significant number of people were killed, many women and children were abducted, and hundreds of cattle were stolen.”

It stated that around 13,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and are currently being housed at a camp for displaced people outside of a UNMISS-operated temporary base in Tambura, Western Equatoria State, following another round of communal violence. The UN mission also reported that, as a result of recent violence, an additional 4,000 people have arrived to a different displacement camp in Tambura town.

“Tensions between communities from different ethnic backgrounds are high following a series of incidents, including the killing of civilians, disappearance of a priest who is a member of the Tambura peace committee, and the torching of homes,” it stated.

The head of UNMISS and special representative to the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom, stated that every effort is being made by the peacekeeping force to safeguard civilians entangled in intercommunal conflict.

The UN mission stated that in reaction to the tragedy in Eastern Equatoria, it had asked the GPAA authorities to retrieve all individuals kidnapped and put them back with their families, as well as to enforce the rule of law to stop such incidents.

A further 76 military personnel were sent by the UNMISS to strengthen the temporary base at Tambura, safeguard displaced people, and increase patrols in the surrounding region.

In an effort to ease tensions and bring peace back to Tambura town, it is also interacting with local and national political players as well as community leaders.