Deteriorating Security In South Sudan Province Irks UN Peacekeeping Chief
By John Agok
The Special Representative of the Secretary General in South Sudan has condemned the deteriorating security situation in Tumbura town of Western Equatoria state among the youth; as he called on the government to salvage the situation.
It is reported that the citizens were being displaced in the Tumbura’s youth clashes that started earlier this month.
Nicholas Haysom, the UN Chief said on Thursday that it was high time for government to protect citizens from being displaced and hold perpetrators accountable due to such violence.
“Government should intervene in the emerging insecurity in Tumbura, which is one of the great concerns affecting the Humanitarian assistance for those displaced people due to continue political violence”, he said.
Haysom was speaking during the opening session of the 18th R-JMEC meeting where he was in attendance for the first time since he became the UNMISS Chief in South Sudan.
In June, Mr. Haysom told the UN Security Council in New York that widespread inter-communal violence was threatening South Sudan’s peace accord as it continues to obstruct realization of durable and sustainable peace in the World’s youngest nation.
Mr. Haysom also acknowledged the increasing level of vulnerability across the Country, given the unprecedented communal conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change that continue to have impact on food security and livelihoods.
He revealed that the country has become a World‘s worse state for killing of the humanitarian workers.
“South Sudan has become worse state in World record for killing and kidnapping of Humanitarian workers in the line of duty. Government should hold accountable the perpetrators in a bid to decrease the political violence in the country”, he added.
Maj. Gen Charles Tai Gituai, the R-JMEC Interim Chairperson urged government to release resources for implementing the remaining tasks of the peace deal.
“We called upon government to release necessary resources in implementing some chapters in R-ARCSS. We wanted to see the swearing in of Revitalized-National Transitional Legislative Assembly(R-NTLA)”, he underscored.
According to Gen. Gituai, there was a need to expedite all the security arrangement tasks for the people to enjoy total peace.
Last week, the Parliamentarians Affairs Minister; who also doubles as the Acting Secretary General of the ruling party, SPLM, dismissed allegation that she was behind the ongoing youth fighting in Tumbura Town, Western Equatoria State.
Jemma Nunu Kumba, who hails from Tumbura was accused by the State Governor Mr. Alfred Futuyo Karaba among other four politicians, of igniting clashes between Zande and Balanda youth in the area.
However, Ms. Kumba disputed the claim in a Press Conference at her office in Juba last week.
The Tumbura’s crisis has so far claimed dozen lives including 13 year-old girl who is believed to have been raped to death.
It has also left houses burned down to ashes and hundred people displaced.
The fierce violence was claimed by the State’s Governor to have been fuelled by politicians hailed from the area.
