Escalating Western Equatoria violence remains ‘great concern’ — UN envoy

JUBA — The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has expressed concerns over escalating violence in the country’s Western Equatoria state urging the government in Juba to spell out a strong mechanism in holding peace spoilers to account.

This comes after over 4000 people were displaced after an unidentified militia group allegedly allied to the SPLM-IO-nominated governor of Western Equatoria Alfred Fotuyo attacked several villages in Tambura county killing innocent civilians.

On Saturday, renewed attacks in the area resulted in the death of one person and wounding of at least four more people when the residence of the Paramount Chief of Tambura was burnt by armed men.

Officials reportedly said also several homesteads were torched by the attackers forcing thousands of civilians to flee the villages and seek safety at UNMISS Operation based there.

Speaking at the 18th R-JMEC monthly meeting in Juba on Thursday, Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS disclosed that the situation in Tombura is of great concern to the world body.

“Even today, emerging insecurity in Tombura is of great concern equally with localizing conflict in Tonj between armed youth from Lou Paher and Luanjang which get tremendous impact on civilians,” Haysom said.

On July 15, at least five people were killed and 13 others were wounded when communal fighting erupted between the communities of Lou Paher and Luanjang at Marial Lou area in Tonj of Warrap State.

Haysom said: “As the two groups clash the warehouse of the World Food Program was overrun and four-month supplies intended for 41,000 foods insecure people were looted.”

Haysom stressed the need to build a strong judicial system to hold perpetrators of communal violence accountable.

“A strong and well-developed justice chamber can break the circle of violence and holding peace spoilers accountable,” he said.