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The UN says another 400 people have been kidnapped in communal conflicts during the same period that the country struggles to emerge from years of war.
More than 1,000 people have died in South Sudan in the past six months and 400 have been kidnapped in communal conflicts, according to the United Nations.
The country is struggling to emerge from years of a ruinous civil war, which erupted two years after gaining independence in 2011 and formally ended with the creation of a power-sharing government in February.
The conflict has killed some 400,000 people, forced millions from their homes and destroyed the infrastructure of the oil-producing country.
Violence has skyrocketed in recent months between rival communities, often over cattle theft that has led to cycles of brutal revenge killings.
“More than 1,000 people died in Warrap [state] in the last six months, ”UN special envoy David Shearer said Tuesday. “There are many people who want to go ahead and carry out attacks of revenge for those who have died.”
Shearer warned that once the dry season hits in January, the potential for further conflict in the central state was high.
Meanwhile, in the eastern state of Jonglei, “hundreds” were killed in clashes this year “and more than 400 people were abducted.”
“The potential for conflict in Jonglei as a result … is very, very high,” Shearer said.
He called for dialogue between the communities and said that the UN mission in the country would deploy peacekeepers to various temporary bases in some of the hotspots of violence.
Observers warned that community violence ran the risk of derailing a peace agreement to end the war. The key principles of the agreement, such as the unification of the forces at war under a single army, have not progressed.
“By improving roads, we improve economic development as we move forward with peace.” – SRSG David Shearer, at today’s press conference in which he announced that #UNMISS Peacekeepers will rehabilitate 3,200 kilometers of roads in #South Sudan 🇸🇸. Full story: https://t.co/ZYOCHVvBAs# A4P pic.twitter.com/PTwpKVNh2c
– UNMISS (@unmissmedia) November 17, 2020
Separately, Shearer said the UN peacekeeping mission would begin work to rehabilitate 3,200 km (1,988 miles) of roads in the country during the dry season.
“It provides access to services, increases trade between areas, which lowers the cost of goods in the market, creates jobs and contributes to economic growth,” Shearer said.
“Through the roads, people from different communities communicate with each other, which builds trust and deters conflict.”
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