South Sudan: UN mission condemns Kao-keji violence

JUBA, FEBRUARY 5^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Sunday said it was shocked and condemned the killings and violence in Kajo-keji County of Central Equatoria state.

This comes after separate attacks between cattle herders and host community in Kajo-keji resulted in the killing of at least 27 people and the displacement of over 2000 civilians mostly women and children.

“This violence is unacceptable and was in sharp contrast to the message of the Ecumenical Peace Pilgrimage to South Sudan, which called for peace and reconciliation. UNMISS calls on the authorities to heed the Ecumenical messages, urgently launch an investigation and hold perpetrators to account,” said Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS and SRSG in South Sudan.

In the statement, the world mission in the country “welcomes “the Government’s deployment of troops to the area to quell tensions and protect internally displaced persons. UNMISS is increasing patrols to the affected areas, and engaging the authorities as well as community leaders, to bring an end to these hostilities and seek peaceful Solutions.”

“UNMISS is gravely concerned about the resurgence of killings and violence stemming from long-standing tensions between cattle keepers and host communities in Central Equatoria State and in other parts of the country,” it added,

“We urge South Sudanese leaders to encourage restraint and avoid fueling any conflict,” SRSG Haysom said.