UN Report: Regime-orchestrated ethnic conflicts and insecurity responsible for 80% of civilian deaths in 2020

 

Close to 80% of all conflict-related fatalities and injuries in the year 2020 were caused by tribal and community-based militias who are being supported and maintained by local and national elites in Kiir’s regime – a recent United Nations (UN) report has confirmed.

According to the report, the most affected areas include Jonglei, Greater Pibor, Warrap and Lakes State where rivalling communities have trying to wipe out each other often without any effort from the national government to stop or avert the catastrophe.

Instead, evidence of the arms used in the attacks, plus the facilitation and mobilisation of the communities have suggested a regime-orchestrated strategy to instigate widespread ethnic conflicts and insecurity in all corners of South Sudan.

On the conflict in Lakes State that has been raging for over 7-years and has claimed hundreds of innocent lives, President Kiir has publicly and repeatedly said “let them fight until they are tired” when asked to try to stop the continuous senseless killings in that region.

Similarly, in January 2021, President Salva Kiir told communities in greater Jonglei that he will not intervene again if they engage in ethnic conflict – again suggesting they can fight until they get tired!

“Next time you go for fighting, I will not come to help you… I will not appoint any committee to go and investigate the fighting in that area,” Kiir said.

With this mounting evidence of a nation in a state of chaos (under Kiir’s regime) spiralling into collapse and fragmentation, people are saying enough is enough and are demanding that something is done to rid the nation of the evil tribal policies of President Kiir and his loyalists.

 

The regime has refused to pursue the path of peace and stability but chose to maintain the status quo through orchestrating widespread ethnic conflicts and insecurity in all corners of South Sudan

 

Addressing the nation during his annual Easter Speech, the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the National Salvation Front (NAS) Gen Thomas Cirillo urged the people of South Sudan “…to have hope and stand united with courage and resolve to overcome the oppressive regime and determine the destiny of our people and country”.

“…our country is in a state of chaos and heading to collapse and fragmentation. The regime has refused to pursue the path of peace and stability but chose to maintain the status quo through orchestrating widespread ethnic conflicts and insecurity in all corners of South Sudan. The regime is under the illusion that engaging in killings, rape, terror and intimidation will subdue the people of South Sudan and continue their evil policies,” he said.

 

Similarly, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Justin Badi Arama, questioned the existence of the elusive peace amidst increasing reports of violence and insecurity all over the country.

“When you look around in Malakal, you hear people are killed in the town as they prepare to receive their governor, in Torit the whole governor has to ask the headquarters to rescue him, where is the peace?”

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