September 08, 2024 07:23 (IST)
Follow us:
South Sudan: UN welcomes deal to resolve conflict in Pibor
New York, May 15 (IBNS): The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has welcomed the signing of an agreement between the Government and the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (Cobra Faction) on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Greater Pibor County, Jonglei state.
In a press statement welcoming the accord, reached in Addis Ababa on 9 May, UNMISS chief Hilde Johnson recalled that just six months ago, prior to the to the current national crisis, Pibor County was the epicentre of instability in South Sudan, and the conflict between the SSDM/A and the Government was the focus of international attention.
“I would like to thank the negotiators as well as the religious leaders for their efforts in stopping the violence, bloodshed and suffering of the citizens of Pibor County” she said, commending the Church Mediation Team for facilitating the deal and congratulating the parties for ensuring that peace and stability has prevailed in Greater Pibor County since their dialogue began last year.
The agreement, Johnson continued, will lay the foundation of a durable peace for all the people and communities of Pibor and surrounding counties. “I ask them and their leaders to turn this agreement into swift action” she added.
Meanwhile, the Mission stands ready to support the full implementation of the peace agreement and called on all international development and humanitarian partners to provide assistance that will enable the Government and the people of the Greater Pibor County to address the root causes of the longstanding instability, including the delivery of basic services and other peace dividends.
Further to the press statement, Johnson reaffirmed the Mission's steadfast commitment to the people of South Sudan, and expressed her hope that the Government and the SPLA/In Opposition can follow suit and also reach a peaceful solution to the wider conflict “which continues to cause untold suffering to the people of South Sudan.”
The Pibor agreement comes as a broader accord was signed on 9 May, also in the Ethiopian capital, by South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir, and former Vice President Riek Machar, whose supporters have waged a five-month battle that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and led to gross human rights violations by both sides. The agreement to resolve the country's wider crisis was welcomed late last week by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
(UNMISS peacekeepers patrolling in Pibor, Jonglei State, South Sudan. Photo: UNMISS/Martine Perret.)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
USA: 3-year-old child shoots himself with mother's gun, critical Sat, Sep 07 2024
YouTube closes Tenet Media channel run by Lauren Chen over alleged Russian money laundering connections: Report Sat, Sep 07 2024
Bangladesh: Interim government won't change national anthem which was penned down by Rabindranath Tagore, confirms adviser Sat, Sep 07 2024
Pakistan: Case filed against three for 'raping' school teacher Sat, Sep 07 2024
Pakistani national residing in Canada charged with plotting terrorist attack against Jews in New York on Oct 7 anniversary Sat, Sep 07 2024
Israel-Gaza crisis: Turkish-American Aysenur Eygi shot dead during West Bank protest Sat, Sep 07 2024
Local journalist gunned down in Pakistan's Mastung Fri, Sep 06 2024