Striving for harmony: A peacekeeping tale on the importance of timely information

unmiss south sudan eastern equatoria opposition forces information command civilians harmony protection of civilians

To implement a peace agreement one needs to know what exactly has been agreed. Opposition forces in Eastern Equatoria are being informed.

28 Feb 2019

Striving for harmony: A peacekeeping tale on the importance of timely information

Samira Y. Salifu

The signing of the revitalized peace agreement has not led to the immediate implementation of outlined provisions hoped for by the “ordinary people” of South Sudan. Yet, where and when news of peace arrives, sometimes with the support of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, as we shall see in the case of Isaloru in Eastern Equatoria, there is hope that it will prevail.

The challenges involved in spreading the word of what has been agreed by higher-ups in the capital Juba are formidable. Poor telecommunication and road networks and the relative inaccessibility of hinterlands, coupled with prevailing security risks, often mean that information and instructions travel slowly.

Commanders and other crucial stakeholders in faraway locations on the ground may have to wait for months, or more, to receive them, and the implementation of peace accords will suffer.

“It is good that we have received physical copies of this command order in the presence of the rank and file of our division. Sometimes when we communicate orders without the backing of such physical evidences our subordinates think we are making things up,” says Brigadier General Thok Chuni Yok Kuai.

He and his men from Division 9 of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition are based in Isaloru. In its perpetual quest to inform, monitor and facilitate peace, an integrated patrol of UN peacekeepers have braved the tortuous, lonely and bumpy dirt road that leads here.

They have come to deliver the “command order” referred to by the Brigadier General, issued by opposition leader Riek Machar on 3 February, pursuant to a 2014 communiqué stipulating the prohibition of all sorts of sexual violence within the framework of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

Machar’s February dispatch orders strict compliance with the commitments made in the 2014 communiqué by all loyal forces, including the one to publicly denounce acts of sexual violence at the highest level and in the strongest terms. A pertinent reminder, perhaps, in a time where reports claim sexual violence  abounds, and where opposing parties accuse each other of perpetrating these acts.

A team of high-ranking army officials and their forces have already assembled in a large yard in expectation of news to be delivered by the patrolling peacekeepers. Here, they say, peace reigns supreme. 

“We decided to live in peace with neighbouring civilian communities from the day this peace agreement was signed because our chairman [Riek Machar] told us to do so,” explains Maj Gen Benjamin John Baptista, the acting sector commander.

“As you can see for yourselves, we live in harmony with the communities here,” Brigadier General Koboss Milton chips in.

 “We are happy that you acknowledge that it is time to reconnect and rebuild confidence and trust for peace,” comments Elisabeth Haynes-Sageder, one of the visiting UN peacekeepers.

At this point, focus group discussions, delving into the nitty-gritty of the implementation of the provisions in Machar’s command order, take over. It is time for the patrol to move on, to assess the situation in some of the nearby communities mentioned by the military officers.

Participants of the UNMISS patrol meet Imoruk chief Anthony Ohure, who assures them that relations with the opposition forces are good, at least here, six kilometres from the base of Division 9.

 “We [the opposition troops and the civilian communities] have been living like brothers and sisters since the signing of the agreement. They also hold frequent community forums with us where we can air our grievances.”

With that, the Torit-based peacekeepers embark on the long trip back. As peacefully as they came.