![South Sudan activist Edmund Yakani. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Djfq2jGW0AAJpdg.png?resize=799%2C410&ssl=1)
South Sudan after the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in September 2018 has continued to suffer from subnational violence despite remarkable reduction in political violence with escalation starting last year when ethnic Nuer armed youth attacked civilians in Upper Nile region, before another violence spiraling out of hand in Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
On Monday morning, approximately 200 armed youth from Unity and Warrap States launched a joint deadly attack on civilians in southern part of the disputed Abyei region, killing at least 13 people – all of whom are civilians – and wounding at least five, according to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
In reaction, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani condemned the attack which he referred to as ‘blatant’ violation of human rights in the area and warned that escalating subnational violence in most parts of the country is undermining the functioning of the government and the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
“It is clear that armed youth from cattle herder across the country are increasingly undermining the constitutional function of the government on protection of civilians and application of rule of law. President should take responsibility of ascertaining his constitutional obligation for holding individuals or group of persons that under the constitutional obligation of the government,” Yakani said in the statement extended to Sudans Post.
“Indiscipline politicians, military leaders and traditional leaders are increasing engaged in undermining the role of the government on protection of civilians by strengthening and support the role of youth for being armed for waging deadly and inhuman attacks on their fellow civilians’ population,” the activist warned.
The prominent activist further said that “What is happening recently in Gumuruk, Magalla and Rumamer villages is clear demonstration that the state capacity for provision of constitutional obligation for providing protection of civilians is growing getting weaker and weaker. This tell a lot in terms of soon armed youth as a non-armed state actors will take control of the society governance obligation from the government.”
CEPO is observing a growing trend of state leadership failure in delivering its constitutional obligations on ensuring peace and stability holds in the country. AS long as the country leadership is not taking pro-active and functional role in punishment its members that are effectively engaged in fueling deadly and inhuman violence the civilians will continue facing gross human rights violations in various form
Finally, CEPO will be taking pro-active role in nurturing efforts for seeking solutions for concrete mitigation of the deadly and inhuman violence across the country through our program of “Peace House.”
