A high-level delegation from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has conducted on Friday held a meeting in Unity State’s Panyijiar County to assess the security situation and encourage the peaceful resolution of ongoing tensions with neighbouring Lakes State.
The meeting comes amid a surge in deadly cattle raids and communal clashes along the border of Unity and Lakes states, which have claimed dozens of lives, displaced hundreds, and led to the loss of livestock.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Panyijiar County Commissioner Gabriel Majok Bol appealed for calm and called on communities in both Unity and Lakes states to embrace dialogue as the only sustainable path to peace.
“There should be a memorandum of understanding to promote peaceful dialogue and allow free movement between our communities,” he stated.
For her part, UNMISS Acting Head of Field Office in Unity State, Stella Abayomi, echoed the commissioner’s message, stressing that military solutions have only prolonged the suffering in South Sudan.
“South Sudan has tried to resolve its problems through military means for decades, but only dialogue can deliver lasting peace,” Abayomi stated.
The UNMISS delegation emphasized its continued commitment to supporting local peace efforts and protecting civilians affected by violence.
Authorities say the recent conflict has destabilized the region, putting pressure on humanitarian resources and threatening livelihoods in both states.