UN mission voices concern over renewed tribal violence in southern Sudan

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sudan (UNMIS) today expressed its deep concern over renewed tribal clashes in the country’s southern Jonglei State, where dozens of people reportedly lost their lives over the weekend, with many others injured or forced to flee.

In a press statement, the mission again called “on all parties to refrain immediately from using violence and encourages tribal and community leaders to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” the 2005 pact signed by the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan that ended two decades of north-south civil war.

UMMIS appealed to local authorities to take steps to restore stability in the areas affected by violence and also to the Government of Southern Sudan to do all it an to ensure civilians’ safety and to find a way to end tribal hostilities in Jonglei.

Today’s statement stressed the mission’s readiness to support the Government of Southern Sudan to prevent the escalation of fighting, noting that UN agencies and its partners will continue to assist those impacted by violence.