The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) over the weekend responded to intercommunal violence, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries in Warrap State’s greater Tonj area, by deploying peacekeepers to help stabilize the situation.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who was briefing the press in New York on Monday, said tensions, however, remain high, and the Mission has a quick reaction force on standby to deter further conflict.
“UNMISS is also engaging community leaders and state authorities in an effort to restore calm,” he said.
Separately, he revealed that after several attempts due to access denials, the Mission conducted an integrated two-day patrol to Khor Kaltan/Jebel Iraq in Central Equatoria State to assess the situation there following reports of a deadly attack on civilians in late March.
“The patrol team met with community representatives and security forces on the ground,” Dujarric stated.
The spokesperson added that a UNMISS-supported mobile court in Unity State’s Leer County has concluded its work after hearing 68 civil and criminal cases across several counties in southern Unity State and the Bentiu IDP camp.
“This resulted in 31 criminal rulings with 18 convictions, with others acquitted or dismissed, and 29 people released from wrongful or prolonged detention,” he said. “Such mobile justice interventions are part of the Mission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law and access to justice throughout South Sudan.”
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