JUBA/MALAKAL – In the midst of torrential downpours, Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), arrived in Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal, today.

The SRSG’s visit came in the aftermath of last week’s conflict between two displaced communities sheltering at the UN Protection Site adjacent to the UN Peacekeeping mission’s base here, which led to some 14 people being killed and several others injured.

Mr Haysom’s first point of contact was with James Odhok Oyay, Governor of Upper Nile state, with whom he had fruitful deliberations.

“I’m hoping through engaging with the government, to prevent a recurrence of the events of last week. I appreciate that the drivers of the conflict, certainly [those] related to the increased pressure on communities from returnees due to the ongoing situation in Sudan—examples of which we have seen both in Renk and in Malakal—were flashpoints triggering ethnic conflict. This is sure to persist until the war in Sudan stops. So, it's vital for us to look at our responses in this context,” said SRSG Haysom.

“As I’m here on the ground six days after this tragic incident, I can see that tensions are still high though there is relative calm in the Protection site. We could not have achieved this without the full support of the state government, the South Sudan National Police Service and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces,” he added.

Despite worsening weather conditions, SRSG Haysom met with leaders from the Shilluk and Nuer communities, expressing his condolences to bereaved families.

“What is absolutely critical is that South Sudanese have to learn to live together. There can be no place for intercommunal violence or hatred. It’s very important that community leaders are the first ones to pronounce themselves on this necessity. Secondly, we want to tackle the issue of the firearm circulation within camps for the internally displaced and the Protection of Civilians site; this will require close collaboration with all stakeholders,” he stated.  

SRSG Haysom was accompanied by humanitarian partners who are providing aid to those who need it the most. He also commended the Mission's medical peacekeepers for treating the wounded swiftly. 

Displaced communities are still shaken by the conflict, with some 8,000 people having left the Protection Site for Malakal town or settling outside the humanitarian hub. Currently, around 600 peacekeepers are constantly patrolling in and around the Protection Site to shore up community confidence and prevent further violence.