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November 26, 2020 (RUMBEK) – A swift response by UN peacekeepers from Nepal resulted in the prevention of a possible clash between armed groups in Cueibet County in South Sudan’s Lake State, reported the mission (UNMISS) on its website.
- Nepalese troops from UNAMID (UN)
According to the UN, minutes after receiving the warning of a possible confrontation between armed groups in Cueibet, the Nepalese peacekeepers jumped into action and sent a team of highly trained troops to intervene and protect civilians in the area.
His swift response to the threat of an inter-community clash followed the murder of a young man during a raid on a cattle camp some 12 kilometers north of the town of Cueibet in the South Sudan Lakes region.
A day after that incident, some 60 members of his community collected their weapons and headed towards the village to avenge his death.
At around 9 a.m., the peacekeepers, who are in a temporary base in the remote area, received information that the group was mobilizing to attack and that 100 people within the city itself had armed themselves while they were preparing to repel that attack. the crash was imminent, “he said.
The Nepalese contingent immediately sent a platoon of soldiers to intercept the groups and, within an hour, they established a checkpoint between them. The peacekeepers worked in collaboration with the local police who were also responding to the threat.
“Our task was to assess the security situation, patrol the area to deter armed groups, provide a protective presence, and intervene to protect civilians if necessary,” said Captain Bigyan Bista, commander of the Rapid Reaction Force of Nepal.
The joint effort between UNMISS and local security services worked, and the armed group returned to their village. The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces in the area expressed appreciation for the quick response of the peacekeepers.
It is common for conflicts between communities to arise during the dry season in South Sudan as they seek to recover from the loss of crops and livestock during the previous rainy months through violent incursions against others.
In anticipation of this, UNMISS would have established temporary bases in hotspots in line with its “proactive, robust and agile” approach to peacekeeping and consolidation.
At these bases, integrated military and civilian teams work to deter violence, support reconciliation efforts, and help communities come to an agreement to coexist peacefully. The goal is to provide protection where it is most needed.
The Nepalese contingent has reinforced its temporary base with fresh troops from its battalion headquarters in Rumbek so that they can increase patrols and provide a protective presence to civilians living in the area. They will remain in place until the situation stabilizes.
(ST)
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