![UN force commander in South Sudan Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian. [Photo courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image770x420cropped.jpg?resize=1000%2C545&quality=89&ssl=1)
In a story published on its website today, the UN mission said that an UNMISS patrol to the violence-affected area of Wonduruba in Central Equatoria State was recently forced to turn back after being stopped at a security checkpoint.
The story, which did not name the perpetrator nor mentioned as to when the incidents happened, said that despite hours of negotiations, peacekeepers were denied access, preventing them from assessing the situation and providing necessary protection.
“We try our best when we reach the checkpoints not to aggravate the situation and not to get into a conflict, but what suffers is our ability to reach locations where we can save lives of South Sudanese citizens. Access denials prevent us from saving those lives,” said UNMISS Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian.
Wonduruba, located 122 kilometers south of the capital Juba, has been a flashpoint for violence, with civilians, including women and children, killed or displaced since April 2024. While a South Sudanese delegation is investigating the violence, UNMISS has been unable to access the area due to repeated restrictions.
The treacherous journey to Wonduruba underscores the challenges peacekeepers face. A convoy recently took over seven hours to traverse heavily flooded and damaged roads, camping overnight before being stopped just five kilometers from their destination.
UNMISS conducts approximately 700 patrols monthly, with most proceeding unhindered. However, access denials in critical conflict-prone areas remain a concern.
“On the face of it, the numbers may look insignificant, but these are the locations where clashes are imminent. These are the places we have the most concern about protection of civilians,” Mohan said. “If we are not able to get there and show our presence, we cannot prevent the conflict escalating.”
He emphasized that while the South Sudanese government holds the primary responsibility for protecting civilians, UNMISS steps in when state forces cannot reach conflict zones.
“The Government is primarily responsible for the protection of civilians. If their armed forces can reach that place and prevent the conflict, we are more than happy. But if they can’t reach places and conflict is not being prevented, we must go,” he says.
The UN mission further urged the government to ensure unhindered access for its patrols, emphasizing that the mission’s activities align with the interests of peace in South Sudan.
“We request the government that, one of the best ways to ensure collectively fulfil the protection of civilians mandate, is to ensure unfettered access to UNMISS. We have never, ever gone against the interests of peace in South Sudan and there is no reason to feel that UNMISS going anywhere will create any difficulty for the government or the peace agreement. It will actually promote our efforts in this regard,” he said.
