South Sudan – International concern over reports of incitement to violence against civilians in Jonglei

The mission stated in a press statement that local communities in Jonglei and other parts of South Sudan are suffering severe damage as a result of the escalation of the conflict, including direct military confrontations between forces allied with the main parties to the peace agreement.

Graham Maitland, Acting Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, said: “Inciting rhetoric calling for violence against civilians, including the most vulnerable, is absolutely abhorrent and must stop immediately.”

The mission noted that South Sudan’s leaders continue to emphasize their commitment to peace, but hostilities and ceasefire violations continue unabated.

The mission urged the leaders to put the interests of their people first by stopping the fighting and fulfilling their obligations under the peace agreement.

Maitland said that “This includes returning to consensus-based decision-making, committing to power-sharing arrangements, and agreeing on a path to end the transitional period peacefully through comprehensive dialogue.”

In general, the conflict in South Sudan is driven by several factors, including inter-communal violence between and within tribal groups involving local militias and civil defense groups, hostilities between warring parties and other armed groups – including alleged interference by foreign forces, political tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, and ethnic polarization.