UN Warns Of Imminent Mass Killing In Jonglei State in South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, (UNMISS) has warned of another likely mass killing in South Sudan between tribes in the largest State of Jonglei who clashed last week on Thursday and left hundreds of people killed and displaced.

“Unless a process is put in place to reconcile these communities, we risk another retaliatory attack that is even larger in scope and scare,” Hilde Johnson, South Sudan Special Representative of the UN Secretary General told Gurtong yesterday in Juba.

Hilde said that according to unverified report, the Thursday tribal clashes in Wuror County of Jonglei between Murle and the Nuer, over 600 people were killed, over 800 wounded and 250,000 displaced.

It also said that, between 26,000 and 30,000 cattle were stolen during the attacks and many homes have been destroyed, adding that, nearly 200 people were abducted in the melee.

“This is the latest incidence in a series of attacks between the two communities, actually a retaliation of another major attack that happened in June this year when Lou Nuer of Wuror County attacked the Murle,” Hilde said.

According to the envoy, the UN has vowed to take a military intervention in what she quoted as, “the scale is increasing; now we are also ready to use military efforts to try to deter further retaliation.”

UNMISS has condemned the clashes while urging the concerned governments to step up continued measures to engage the two tribes into a reconciliatory process and said security in the new State should be prioritized.

“I want to condemn the attack on humanitarian facilities which have been destroyed and looted. The humanitarian impartiality of such facilities must be respected by all,” she said. “The security of all South Sudanese people must come first. UNMISS will assist all relevant stakeholders in preventing further violence causing so much unnecessary suffering. The mission also stands ready to use its military assets to try and deter further escalation.”

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