Ceasefire monitors should push warring parties in Western Equatoria to halt violence

The fighting which erupted in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State and spread to the Bazia border area with Western Bahr El Ghazal State has killed over 16 people and displaced more than 79,000 civilians.

The clashes which erupted over disagreements on relocating the check point manned by the SPLA-IO forces at Kubri-Boo Bridge are unfortunate, because they should have been resolved by the top leadership of the two forces.

The irony is that the leadership of the SPLA-IO is part of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, meaning the disagreements could have been resolved earlier.

The fighting between the two forces demonstrates the challenges ahead as far as the unification of forces is concerned.

The transitional unity government needs to work out a clear plan to speed up the unification of forces.

Ceasefire monitors should investigate the clashes and make the report public, so that South Sudanese know the group that is culpable in this unending violence.