19 January 2012 - Strongly condemning ongoing violence in South Sudan's Jonglei State, UNMISS head Hilde F. Johnson today urged political, traditional and youth leaders to end the killings and confrontations.

"All concerned should redouble their efforts to put an immediate end to the cycle of violence, which is putting thousands of lives at risk and threatening the stability of the whole area," Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Johnson said at a press conference in the capital Juba.

Deadly clashes in recent weeks, mainly between Jonglei's Lou Nuer and Murle communities, have displaced tens of thousands of civilians and led UN agencies to launch a major humanitarian operation to assist those in need.

Ms. Johnson also expressed deep concern over hate messages that had been made by some individuals and groups. "Threats were made to wipe out an entire ethnic group from the face of the earth."

The SRSG noted that repetitive hate language was continuing, calling for ethnic violence and inciting communities to take aggressive actions. "I urge the leaders of all communities at all levels in Jonglei state, and nationally, to call for a halt to any such rhetoric."

On protection of civilians, Ms. Johnson said the mission had committed about half its combat-ready personnel to heavily populated areas in Jonglei like Pibor and Likuongole. "These actions combined with the presence of government troops helped save many lives."

Thanks in part to early warning, tens of thousands of civilians had left the area before the attack against Murle communities, the SRSG said. "When the attack happened, the combined use of force by the SPLA, who opened fire on the armed attackers, and the effective positioning of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) by the UN Mission, helped turn the Lou Nuer column around and seize the attack."

The SRSG noted that various reports on numbers of casualties had circulated since the attack, but that UNMISS findings so far had failed to confirm the scale of claimed by some media. "We urge leaders and the public to avoid jumping to conclusions based on unverified human rights violations."

Observing that several attacks over the past few days had affected Lou Nuer and Dinka communities, she said the mission had been relocating its military forces to locations most at risk in both communal areas to act primarily as a deterrent.

"As you know, the latest target, the Dinka village of Duk Padiet, was attacked on the evening of 16 January," the SRSG said. "Not being able to fly at night, UNMISS peacekeepers deployed at first light to the area where they established a presence and provided medical aid to the victims of the attack, and helped evacuate a number of casualties to Juba and Bor."

As for the humanitarian situation, Ms. Johnson said the UN had launched one of the most complex and expensive emergency operations in South Sudan since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to assist 60,000 people among the 90,000 affected people in the area.

Adding that UNMISS had consistently deployed its limited resources to help prevent and mitigate conflict in Jonglei State over the past few months, Ms. Johnson said more government forces were urgently needed in key locations.

She said the most critical intervention now was to get the peace process between communities off the ground. "It is now very urgent that a dedicated team is appointed to move the process forward. UNMISS is committed to support this process."

Referring to the country's six months of independence, Ms. Johnson noted that South Sudan had joined several international and regional organizations, but added that its relation with neighbouring Sudan was critical to stability for the two countries and the region.

"In this regard, resolving the outstanding issues relating to the border, oil and citizenship will be determinant to the stability and the development of two countries," she said.

Political reform and security were among major challenges the new state was facing, the SRSG noted. "However, the government's introduction of political and security reforms show strong commitment to establishing a stable and democratic state worthy of the people of South Sudan."

She pointed to the timely establishment of the Constitutional Review Commission, which would have a critical role to play. "We offer our support to the Commission and its work, both institutionally and with broad-based nation-wide consultations, as envisaged in its (UNMISS') mandate."

For the full transcript of the SRSG's press conference, click here