The UPA condemns South Sudan’s government for collective punishment against Upper Nile citizens, urging protests against foreign involvement and questioning the efficacy of the R-ARCSS. They call for solidarity from the international community and political reform, demanding the release of detained leaders.
The United People’s Alliance (UPA) criticized the South Sudanese government for what they termed as collective punishment against the residents of Upper Nile during a recent event. Formed in January, the UPA is a coalition comprising the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and other groups engaged in peace discussions facilitated by the government of Kenya.
Recent aerial strikes by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) on the town of Nasir have resulted in civilian casualties, with 21 reported dead, including women and children. The attacks have drawn blame onto the SSPDF and the Ugandan military for their involvement, which has also led to bombardments in other Upper Nile regions like Longechuk.
Lual Dau, Secretary General of the UPA, urged political and civil society activists to protest against the government’s collaboration with foreign troops to suppress their citizens and avoid escalating tensions. He characterized the punitive measures as a form of genocide, emphasizing the devastation wreaked on vulnerable populations and denouncing the government’s reliance on foreign troops to enforce its agenda.
The UPA asserted that the existing peace agreement, the R-ARCSS, is ineffective and needs to be reconsidered for any hope of resolving South Sudan’s ongoing conflict. They called for a halt to the systematic destruction of Upper Nile communities and urged opposition forces and youth groups to abstain from violence, instead, cultivating peaceful resolutions to the issues at hand.
The organization urged regional and international authorities to support the South Sudanese people in these challenging times and echoed demands for the release of political leaders like First Vice President Dr. Rick Machar, who is currently detained alongside other senior members of the SPLM/A.
The UPA condemns the South Sudanese government’s actions in Upper Nile, describing them as collective punishment of civilians. The coalition emphasizes the importance of peaceful resolutions and the release of detained political leaders while calling for international support against government oppression. The effectiveness of the R-ARCSS is questioned, with the coalition seeking an end to destructive measures against civilians and advocating for genuine peace initiatives.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
