UN to establish temporary peacekeeping bases in South Sudan region

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Tuesday it plans to establish temporary peacekeeping bases in the Jonglei region to help end inter-ethnic skirmishes.

David Shearer, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for South Sudan, said the UN peacekeeping mission will need to locate its troops and personnel to promote reconciliation and reconstruction in conflict-affected regions.

“So in the coming weeks, in cooperation with the security services, we will start deploying peacekeepers to places like Manyabol, Likongule, Duk Padiat, Yuai and Waat to establish temporary bases or conduct long-distance patrols,” Shearer told journalists in Juba. .

He said the UN mission’s seventh engineering contingents from countries including Bangladesh, China and Pakistan will begin a major road rehabilitation project during the dry season to help troops patrol with ease.

“On this note, we are well on track with planning for UNMISS operations during the upcoming dry season. As you know, our approach to protecting civilians is to be proactive, robust and agile, ”said Shearer.

The Jonglei region, which borders Ethiopia to the east, has long been plagued by ethnic struggles over cattle pastures and access to water.

It has been an epicenter of cattle theft among the Nuer, Murle and Dinka communities who often carry out retaliatory attacks against each other.