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UN mission calls for unfettered access in South Sudan

Xinhua, October 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) urged the country to ensure unfettered access of the UN personnel as agreed by the UN and the government of South Sudan, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a daily briefing here on Thursday.

A patrol from UNMISS was travelling on Wednesday from the capital Juba to Wonduruba in the country's southern state Central Equatoria when it was stopped by Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers at a check-point close to Wonduruba.

According to the UN mission, its military and civilian personnel were ordered to exit the vehicle and were physically assaulted by the soldiers. In view of the highly hostile attitude, the patrol turned back to Juba.

"The UN Mission condemns such hostile acts and calls on the Government of South Sudan to investigate this incident immediately and hold those responsible accountable," said Dujarric.

"The Mission also urges the Government of South Sudan to reiterate clear orders to all concerned to give unfettered access to UN personnel, as per the Status of Forces Agreement signed with between the UN and the Government of South Sudan," he added.

UNMISS was established by the UN Security Council on July 9, 2011, when South Sudan became an independent country after decades of civil war between the north and south of Sudan.

Political in-fighting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar started in mid-December 2013 and subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict. Enditem