Jonglei Crisis: Hilde and Machar set roadmap to Peace

JUBA-The deadly inter-community conflicts in Jonglei have claimed thousands of lives since the endorsement of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005. The battle of revenge and cattle raiding among the Lou Nuer, Murle and Dinka communities in Jonglei has become unbearable, Vice President, United Nations, the community leaders have come down to put a roadmap to peace.
The historical grievances continue to affect relations between communities and individuals and also that new tensions emerge from old wounds, the United Nations special representative of the Secretary General Hilde Johnson said. Hilde said that the recent Walgak, Akobo 2013 attacks has pushed over three thousand civilians to United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS) camps.
“The ongoing violence and instability in Jonglei have deeper have roots, the historical grievances continue to affect relations between communities and individuals and new tensions emerge from old wounds” Hilde said
“During the violence in Pibor clashes three thousand civilian sought refuge in UNIMSS bases, and were protected there for days, UNMISS also protected more than five thousand civilians in their camps in Akobo, without these protections, hundreds of lives may be at risk” Hilde said.
Despite of the protection, Hilde announced limitation of UNMISS to respond in inter-community conflicts, cattle raiding attacks. “UNMISS have limits to what we can do and where we can operate” Hilde stressed.
“The main responsibilities for the protection of civilians remain with the government and its national security forces, the SPLA and the South Sudan National police services; it is government responsibilities to provide security to the citizens of their country.” Hilde confirmed.
“We call on all communities, their leaders and the authorities, National Government of South Sudan and Jonglei state Government to put end to deadly violence, we also call for maximum restraint to prevent the occurrence of additional attacks, the cycle of violence has to end” Hilde said.
She said that events now threaten to reserve the efforts that have been made to achieve peace and stability in the state. Everything must now be done to prevent a destabilization of Jonglei. The mission stands ready to support such efforts. “We are presently working with authorities to retrieve the stolen cattle, abducted women and children” Hilde added.
She urged government of South Sudan to identify and bring perpetrators to justice. “An integrated UN team along with representatives of the government was deployed to Walgak Payam to support local authorities and to ascertain facts about deadly cattle raiding” she continued.
She said that the team is also interviewing survivors at a field hospital, saying that Protection of civilians remains central to South Sudan Government stability, thus a core priority of UNIMISS mandate. “We continue to update and implement-contingency plans deploy integrated civilian-military assessment missions across the country and redeploy our police and military to areas where they are most needed. In areas most at risk we have contingents permanently deployed and they are being reinforced with more troops when a threat is detected” she added.
She said that the National government launched a process of national reconciliation and healing with intention of peaceful South Sudan and to create a space to deepen understanding, trust and respect. She said that the process and the approach that is taken will be deceived for its possibility to succeed. “It is essential, therefore that the process is inclusive and broadly owned by all stakeholders” she added.
“UNMISS will work closely with all stakeholders in supporting the development of the reconciliation process, We will also continue to help building the capacity of the South Sudan peace and reconciliation commission” she inserted.
The community efforts peaceful coexistence
The Vice president of the Republic of South Sudan Dr Riek Machar Teny, an origin of Nuer Community has made several attempts to realize peace in Jonglei state. Dr Machar let down an organized attack on Murle community by over 12,000 heavily armed Lou Nuer whose mission were to disarm the Murle community in Pibor January 2012.
Machar also let a delegation to Walgak Payam of Akobo County, following the recent attack on civilian, where 135 civilians and 14 SPLA soldiers were allegedly killed. Upon the visit, Machar assured Government commitment to disarm the civil population of Jonglei to realize peaceful coexistence among Jonglei communities. Upon return to Juba, Machar summoned Murle leaders to view peaceful coexistence between the Lou Nuer and Murle and end insecurity in Jonglei state.
Meanwhile Ismail Konyi a Murle community Leader told Machar that Murle community leaders are working for peace in Pibor and entire Jonglei. Ismail said that they don’t have direct contact with David Yau-yau the leader of Murle led rebel group. “We are struggling to persuade David Yau-yau to make peace” Ismail press statement was quoted. He urged the Government to use forceful means if Yau-yau refused to make peace.
And the chairperson of the Lou Nuer Student’s Association of Bahr El-Ghazel University, Mr. Isaac Luka Wiyual The Lou Nuer said that Lou Nuer community is patient enough, but still appeal for massive and fairly re-disarmament in Jonglei. “We are looking upon the government to launch disarmament in Jonglei” Wiyual told the Citizen newspaper. Adding that Lou Nuer community live fear as their counterparts from Pibor still poses guns.