Violence against civilians reduced in 2021, says UNMISS
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has registered a 42 per cent reduction in violence against civilians in 2021 compared to the previous year.
The annual report on violence affecting civilians was released on Thursday by the Human Rights Division of the UN Mission in South Sudan. It documented the killing of 3,414 civilians in 2021, compared to 5,850 civilian victims documented in 2020.
The report states that cases of conflict-related sexual violence declined slightly from 211 in 2020 to 194 in 2021 but remained ‘unacceptably high.’
While the figures represent a significant decrease in the number of victims of violence, violence remained concentrated in Warrap, Jonglei, Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Western Equatoria.
According to the report, Warrap State recorded the highest number of civilian casualties, accounting for 24 per cent of the victims. This was followed by Western Equatoria (19 per cent), and Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) (17 per cent respectively).
The report raises concerns about the surge in fighting that was also documented in Tombura, Western Equatoria, between ethnic militias who are allegedly affiliated with the conventional parties to the conflict.
“Such violence resulted in 440 deaths, 18 injured, 74 abductions, 64 victims of sexual violence, and an estimated 80,000 people displaced,” the statement read in part.
“Many of the victims were killed or injured during attacks by armed community-based militias across Jonglei and the GPPA. In May 2021, violence surged, with at least 230 killed, 120 injured, 178 abducted, and 14 women subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.”
UNMISS deployed peacekeepers to conflict hotspots and conflict zones proactively and preemptively.
In 2021, the mission constructed 116 temporary operational sites to improve civilian protection through long and short-distance patrols. At the same time, the mission held political and community engagements at the local, state, and national levels, and created a Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus strategy.
“UNMISS urges the government of South Sudan to investigate human rights violations and abuses, and to hold all perpetrators accountable, particularly as violence continues to surge in several parts of the country,” the report concludes.
