South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Tuesday warned of potential threats of attacks following mass mobilization of youth in Jonglei State.
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNMISS said the youth in Jonglei State are reportedly mobilizing to attack the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
“One of our immediate peacekeeping priorities and many of you in the media are reporting on it is countering talk of large-scale youth mobilization in Jonglei, through direct engagement with local authorities and community leaders,” Haysom told journalists at a press conference held in Juba.
Haysom said such mobilization could trigger violence if not prevented early.
“Yes, as we understand it, there have been appeals to a wide sector of groupings to mobilize in the Bor area with potential threats of attacks on people,” he said.
He said the community leaders and youth leaders are engaging the youth to embrace dialogue and refrain from using violence as means of solving grievances.
“Therefore we understand that a number of the groups have declined to participate as we speak and part of that is a result of constant engagement with community leaders and youth leaders in those areas,” said Haysom.
He disclosed that peacekeepers are patrolling known hotspots to try and prevent escalations of the violence.
Communities in Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area have exchanged tit-for-tat revenge attacks characterized by cattle raiding, child abduction and killings.
