JUBA-A prominent South Sudanese activist on Tuesday asked President Salva Kiir Mayardit to address the nation on his administration’s response to persistent communal violence in parts of the country.
This call was made the day after the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) published its most recent quarterly brief, which stated that the country’s civilian population is still suffering greatly as a result of community violence.
The Human Rights Division of the UN Peacekeeping Mission recorded 206 events involving 792 civilians between July and September 2024, of which 299 were killed, 310 were injured, 151 were kidnapped, and 32 were the victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).
Executive Director of the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), Mr. Ter Manyang Gatwech, requested that the President speak to the public about the UNMISS report on communal Violence.
“There is no moral justification for the RTGoNU’s silence on the confirmed UNMISS report. As a result, the RTGoNU cannot propose any solutions for protecting its citizens,” he said.
Gatwech voiced grave concerns about the government’s lack of response to the widespread intercommunal violence occurring in several regions of the nation.
“States that such actions undermine public confidence in the government, leading citizens to feel as though there is no one to protect them,” he noted.
He called on the government to fulfill its obligations to safeguard the people and their belongings.
“In the common law tradition, legal protection encompasses both the acknowledgment of fundamental rights and the government’s responsibility to enforce these rights.”
He emphasized the importance of governments enforcing laws that adhere to international human rights norms to prevent people from abuse, violence, and criminal activity.
He believed that strengthening human rights institutions and frameworks would lessen the likelihood of human rights abuses.
“Promoting Human Rights: Governments should proactively promote human rights principles and support initiatives designed to prevent abuses.’
