Watchdog condemns ‘politically motivated’ Malakal IDP camp violence

JUBA, JUNE 8, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan civil society watchdog has said that today’s violence at Malakal internally displaced persons’ camp is politically motivated and called on those involved to find and peaceful mean to settle disputes.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) condemned the violence and called on the parties involved to resolve their disagreements peacefully to preserve human lives.

“Community Empowerment for Progress Organization strongly condemned the inter-communal violence in Malakal IDPs camp,” the statement said.

“This trend of continuous inter-communal violence in Malakal town or IDPs camp is normally political motivated, and it triggers violation of human rights and commitment of other gross human atrocities,” it added.

Fighting between Nuer and Shilluk communities broke out on Thursday morning as a continuation of an earlier incident that took place about a week ago in which a young man was attacked and set on fire over a pregnant girl, according to eyewitnesses and displaced persons.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement earlier today following the fighting that 14 people have been killed and 16 others wounded and that it had deployed forces to the camp to provide confidence-building patrols.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO appealed to the parties to the conflict  to end the fighting and use peaceful means to resolve their different and called on the government in Juba to launch an immediate investigation.

“I am appealing to the conflicting parties in Malakal IDPs camp to cease hostilities immediately and resolving their difference in non-violent manner through dialogue than violence. Violence never gains,” Yakani said.

“The political leadership of the country should undertake urgent responsibility to provide protection of civilians in Malakal IDPs camp. Quick investigation of the violence in Malakal IDPs camp is required,” the prominent activist added.

He stressed that “some political elites in our state of Upper Nile should distanced themselves from using violence as a lender for reaching a political power post through making our communities engaged in deadly violence.”