Peace monitors in South Sudan have called for immediate investigations into violence in Upper Nile State, particularly following an attack on a UN helicopter and significant tensions resulting from recent arrests. The RJMEC urges all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue to restore peace, highlighting the risk to the fragile unity government established by a 2018 peace deal.
Peace monitors in South Sudan have urged a prompt investigation into the violence occurring in Upper Nile State, particularly following an attack on a UN helicopter that resulted in the death of a UN personnel and numerous soldiers. The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) condemned both the violence in Upper Nile and the attack during a UN evacuation mission in Nasir County, calling for a cessation of hostilities and dialogue among the warring factions to promote peace.
The RJMEC specifically requested all parties involved in the conflict to stop hostilities immediately and engage in dialogue to restore calm. This plea was articulated in a statement released in Juba, highlighting the urgent need for peace in the region. Tensions have escalated in Nasir since March 3, following the arrest of several senior officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under First Vice President Riek Machar.
The international community has voiced significant concerns regarding the situation in Juba, indicating that the ongoing violence jeopardizes the fragile unity government established under a 2018 peace agreement that concluded South Sudan’s five-year civil war. Reports indicate over 20 fatalities and several injuries in Nasir, now abandoned, which lies on the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia.
RJMEC has called on the unity government to implement all necessary measures to de-escalate tensions. Additionally, the body urged the Joint Defence Board, integral to the peace deal, to effectively manage all organized forces under its command. Furthermore, it emphasized that the National Transitional Committee, responsible for overseeing the peace agreement’s implementation, must expedite the unification and deployment of forces to ensure peace across South Sudan and prevent future violence.
The RJMEC’s call for a swift investigation into the violence in South Sudan underscores the ongoing tensions in Upper Nile State, particularly after recent attacks on UN personnel. The commission stresses the importance of dialogue and cessation of hostilities to maintain stability and support the fragile unity government established by a 2018 peace agreement. The international community remains concerned as violence continues to threaten peace efforts in the region.
Original Source: www.siasat.com
