Peace monitors in South Sudan advocate for urgent investigations into violence in Upper Nile State and the fatal attack on a UN helicopter. The RJMEC urges immediate cessation of hostilities and dialogue among conflicting parties, highlighting rising tensions and casualties. The international community warns that these developments jeopardize the fragile unity government formed after the 2018 peace deal, and both the unity government and relevant committees are called upon to take decisive actions to restore peace.
Peace monitors in South Sudan have urged for prompt investigations into recent violence occurring in Upper Nile State. This includes an attack on a United Nations (UN) helicopter that resulted in the fatality of a UN personnel and numerous soldiers. The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) condemned the violence and called for both sides to halt hostilities and engage in dialogue toward establishing peace within the nation.
In a statement released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, the RJMEC emphasized, “RJMEC calls upon all the parties involved to immediately cease any further hostilities, give dialogue a chance, and ensure calm is quickly restored.” The conflict has escalated since March 3 in Nasir, a key town, leading to the detention of senior officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), which is led by First Vice President Riek Machar.
The international community has voiced significant concern over these recent developments in Juba, cautioning that they pose a threat to the fragile unity government established by the 2018 peace agreement that concluded a five-year civil war. Reports indicate that over twenty individuals have been killed, with many others injured, on the outskirts of Nasir, a now largely abandoned area situated on the border with Ethiopia.
The RJMEC urged the unity government to take all necessary measures to defuse the situation. Furthermore, it called upon the Joint Defence Board, integral to the 2018 peace agreement, to effectively manage and oversee all armed forces. The RJMEC also requested the National Transitional Committee to hasten the unification and deployment of all forces to uphold peace across the country and prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.
In conclusion, the RJMEC has called for immediate investigations and urged all conflicting parties to embrace dialogue in light of recent violence in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State. The situation demands urgent intervention from the unity government and relevant institutions to ensure peace is maintained and prevent future conflicts. Continued international scrutiny is essential to uphold the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement.
Original Source: www.siasat.com
