The RJMEC has called for immediate investigations into violence in Upper Nile State and the attack on a UN helicopter, urging all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue. The recent unrest threatens the 2018 peace deal’s stability, with over 20 reported fatalities and calls for effective governance and security force unification to avert future violence.
Peace monitors in South Sudan, under the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), have urgently requested an investigation into recent violence in Upper Nile State, which resulted in the death of a United Nations personnel and numerous soldiers. The RJMEC condemned the attack on a UN helicopter aimed at evacuating personnel and called for immediate cessation of hostilities, urging involved parties to engage in dialogue to restore peace within the nation.
The unrest in Nasir, a critical town in Upper Nile State, has intensified since March 3, prompting the arrest of senior officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) led by First Vice President Riek Machar. This escalation represents a serious threat to the fragile unity government established under a peace agreement in 2018, following a prolonged civil war.
Reports from Xinhua news agency indicate that over 20 individuals have been killed in the recent conflicts, with many more injured in the now-deserted areas surrounding Nasir, which is located near the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. The RJMEC has emphasized the need for the unity government to stabilize the region and for the Joint Defence Board—an essential entity established by the peace accord to command organized forces—to vigorously perform its responsibilities.
Lastly, the RJMEC press to the National Transitional Committee, which oversees the implementation of the peace deal, to accelerate unification and deployment of security forces across the country. This action is seen as pivotal to preventing future incidents and ensuring long-term peace in South Sudan.
The RJMEC’s call for prompt investigations and a halt to violence in Upper Nile State highlights the urgent need to stabilize the situation in South Sudan. This crisis threatens the already fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement. It is imperative for all parties to engage in dialogue and for governing bodies to ensure the deployment of unified forces to maintain peace and prevent further bloodshed.
Original Source: www.siasat.com
