South Sudan peace monitors says they investigated southern Unity violence

JUBA – The body monitoring South Sudan’s ceasefire (CTSAMVM) on Tuesday said it has investigated the recent deadly fighting in southern parts of the oil-rich Unity state that resulted in the displacement of thousands of people but was yet to present its finding to the government.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has said that it had documented around 72 civilian deaths between Feb. 17 and April 7 in Unity State’s Leer County.

On 16^th May, armed youths from Mayendit attacked Muom Training Center in Leer killing 11 people, according to the ceasefire monitoring body.

Speaking during a board meeting in Juba on Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Asrat Denero Amad Chairperson of CTSAMVM said the body has investigated Leer incidents and a report is yet to be presented to the government.

“We submitted a preliminary report dated 22 April 2022 which discussed the violence which occurred from February to April and resulted in the death of people,” Gen. Denero said during a board meeting in Juba.

Denero said the violence has resulted in the looting and destruction of properties.

Girls and women were also subjected to multiple forms of Sexual gender-based violence, Denero said.

“At the last Board meeting we briefed on the tension in Koch and Leer Counties in Unity State with reports of continuous attacks from 4th to 8th April 2022, led by the Koch and Mayendit County Commissioners on SPLM/A-IO forces in Leer County and the Leer population.”

He said the recent deadly fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states between the forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army has undermined efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

“We remain very concerned about reports of continued tensions between the Parties in Unity and the Upper Nile States that severely strain the peace process and put the lives of many innocent civilians at risk,” he said.

He urged the Parties to respect and abide by the permanent ceasefire.

He also appealed to parties to refrain from any violence and cease all hostile acts against each other.

“In Upper Nile State, although clashes appear to have subsided, the Parties continue to accuse each other of intentions to attack one another.”