UN says trust lacking in South Sudan deal

Amnesty uncovers proof of ‘war crimes’ in government offensive in Leer, Mayendit counties

The United Nations yesterday warned that entrenched suspicion clouded a newly-minted deal to restore peace to South Sudan, as Amnesty International accused government forces of war crimes.

“There’s currently a key ingredient that is lacking. That’s trust,” said David Shearer, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, referring to the September 12 peace accord.

“Those who signed the agreement have in the past been former friends and foes,” he said. “From my discussions with them, suspicion is still widespread.”

The agreement was signed by President Salva Kiir and rebel leader and former vicepresident Riek Machar.

“We also need to see clear evidence that all the warring factions have the political will to stop the violence,” Shearer said. “We have not seen anything concrete at the moment. What needs to happen first, we need to see a disengagement of the forces.”

He noted the recent clashes in southern region of Central Equatoria that were currently being investigated.

Government security forces had also shot a Nepalese peacekeeper in the southern town of Yei over the weekend, he added.

Bloodshed

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody independence struggle. But just two years later, war broke out, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

A struggle for power between Kiir, a member of the Dinka tribe, and Machar, a Nuer, meant the conflict quickly took on an ethnic character with civilians targeted by both sides for massacre and rape.

Tens of thousands of people were killed, millions pushed to the brink of starvation or forced to flee their homes.