As South Sudan grapples with a deteriorating security situation, including a surge in military confrontations and persistent intercommunal conflict, United Nations peacekeepers are doing their utmost to prevent a relapse into civil war and reinvigorate efforts to implement the peace agreement

Together with regional and international partners, UNMISS has intensified diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions. It has also increased patrols to deter violence, despite many obstacles, including being prevented access to hotspots, such as areas of Upper Nile under aerial bombardment.

“UNMISS and other organizations must understand the situation we are in. There are areas that are restricted until now because we don’t want any organization to go to Tonj or Old Fangak without a green light from General Headquarters,” said South Sudan’s Chief of Defence, General Santino Deng Wol. “The message is that when there is insecurity, we need to evacuate the area for some time, later on, you will be granted permission to move.”

The issue of denial of access to sensitive or insecure locations were top of the agenda at a joint workshop between UNMISS and the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM) in Juba.

“We have our mandate. If we do not visit a conflict prone area within a reasonable time, it questions our very relevance – why are we here? We cannot say that there is a security risk, and we are not going. We are here to take that risk,” said UNMISS Force Commander, Lieutenant-General Mohan Subramanian.

 “We are supposed to take a certain amount of risk, not undue risk, but a reasonable risk to ensure that we do our mandated duties. That is the difference of opinion between the Government and us. You want us to go when it is perfectly safe, but we must go when it is reasonably safe.”

So far this year, the peacekeeping mission has conducted 3500 patrols. However, there have been 686 incidents where documentation provided by UNMISS to the JVMM in advance of patrols was not acknowledged in time and 21 occasions when peacekeepers were denied the ability to move in the field.

 “This issue of movement is sometimes for good purpose. When you are notified, please wait a bit, don’t go, because of insecurity something bad may happen to you,” said the Commander of South Sudan’s Air Force, Lieutenant-General Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.

“If you are granted an okay to go, that means a guarantee of safety to your life is there. But if you insist and go at your own risk, because you don’t believe me or take my words into consideration, when something bad happens, you will either regret it or wish you had understood what you were told.”

The Status of Forces Agreement between the UN and Government of South Sudan states that UNMISS shall “enjoy full and unrestricted freedom of movement without delay”. However, Government representatives point to clauses that, as the host government and a sovereign state, it must take “all appropriate measures to ensure UNMISS’ safety, security and freedom of movement” and that the mission shall “respect all local laws and regulations”.

Despite differences of opinion, workshop participants highlighted many occasions where they were able to work successfully together to resolve challenges and progress patrols to vulnerable communities. There was optimism that, through dialogue, the process could be made much smoother for both parties involved going forward.  

 “Unfettered access given to UNMISS and our partners, the humanitarians in the country, would be one of the surest ways of proving and demonstrating the credibility of the Government of South Sudan for implementing the peace agreement to the whole world,” said the UNMISS Force Commander.