UNMISS urges government to step up fight against impunity
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) appealed to the government of South Sudan to double its efforts in the fight against impunity.
This came after the UN peacekeeping mission on Friday released a UN report showing an increase in the number of civilians harmed in the country in 2022, despite a decrease in the number of violent incidents.
According to the UN report for 2021 and 2022 released by UNMISS on Friday, it was stated that violence affecting civilians shows a two percent increase in the number of civilians harmed across South Sudan in 2022. This is despite a 27 percent decrease in the overall number of documented violent incidents compared to the previous year—714 in 2022 and 982 in 2021.
The brief, which covered the period from January to December 2022, registered at least 3,469 civilian victims affected mostly by killing, injury, abduction, and conflict-related sexual violence.
“UNMISS calls on the Government of South Sudan to demonstrate political will and step up efforts against impunity, investigate human rights violations and abuses, and hold perpetrators accountable, particularly as deadly violence remains an issue of grave concern in parts of the country,” said Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, said.
The UN Peace Mission also urged all South Sudanese parties to the peace agreement to focus on the prospects for sustainable peace, security, and peaceful, fair, and inclusive elections.
“More South Sudanese civilian victims were recorded in 2022 compared to 2021, though killings and violent incidents showed a decrease,” according to a UN report.
The report also revealed that 42 percent of South Sudanese who suffered from violent conflict were located in Upper Nile and Warrap states, while Jonglei, Unity, Eastern Equatoria, and Central Equatoria states collectively accounted for approximately 50 percent of victims.
According to the brief, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Warrap states were mostly affected by violence involving community-based militias and/or civil defense groups.
