Kiir says he “cannot stop” Upper Nile violence

JUBA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit said on Tuesday that his government cannot stop the ongoing deadly armed conflict in Upper Nile state, but said he will instead use what he calls “sustainable” mean to bring peace to the restive part of the world’s youngest country.

Kiir made the remarks during the closing session of the meeting of the National Liberation Council (NLC) of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction in Juba where he revealed that there is an ongoing communal fighting in Eastern Nuer.

“There is war in Eastern Nuer in Jakow and there is war in the Chollo Kingdom,” Kiir told the high-level SPLM gathering.

“Who are those fighting there, they are our brothers and sisters and I cannot stop them. Using a sustainable peace in our country is what I will use,’ he added.

Since July, armed youth from neighboring Jonglei state have been attacking civilians in the Chollo Kingdom with thousands of people reportedly being killed last Wednesday and thousands more displaced from villages to the capital Malakal.

In September, Upper Nile state governor Abudhok Anyang told Sudans Post that he had approached the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) for intervention, but was turned away on grounds that they don’t have orders from headquarters in Bilpam to prevent the fighting in Upper Nile.

Some residents of Maiwut County have also said that fighting has been taking place between the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) under the command of General Ochan Puot and armed civilians and has also displaced many.