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Feature: S. Sudan's displaced persons longing for peace

Xinhua, August 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

As South Sudan awaits the deployment of the regional force agreed during a recent regional summit in Ethiopia to protect internally displaced persons (IDPs) and humanitarian agencies in the wake of clashes in July between rival forces, those displaced are yearning for peace.

This came after the deadly clashes in July 8-11 that left 272 people killed, and some 60,000 others seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

Machar, who leads the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in opposition (SPLM/A-IO), is expected to return for the second time to the capital once the third force sets foot in Juba.

The elusive SPLM/A-IO leader first returned on April 26 to Juba to take up his position and was subsequently sworn in, before fleeing to unknown destination in the aftermath of renewed July fighting.

However, he has since been replaced with his former chief negotiator Taban Deng by a breakaway faction of the SPLM/A-IO loyal to the latter.

Some 28,000 IDPs, mostly from Riek Machar's Nuer ethnic community trapped in the largest protection of civilian site (PoC) on the outskirts of the capital Juba at Jebel, say they hope the regional force acts as a deterrent force rather than mere protection force to separate the two rival armies.

"It is a good idea, but it shows South Sudan is unable to offer security to us. We are actually worried because we don't know whether they (regional force) are a deterrent force," Gom Kubong, one of the IDPs at the PoC told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday.

He added that initially the government had shown uneasiness in accepting the regional force deployment in the capital, and also fears that any change in the provisional mandate of the force may create further problems than solution.

"If they have come to protect it means there is another problem, unless they come as a deterrent force, create a buffer zone," Kubong revealed.

"After the July fighting, we don't move out due to insecurity. And yet we have unfulfilled demands like destroyed properties," he decried.

Another IDP, Gatwech Kong told Xinhua that despite the impending arrival of the force, the political situation remains tense.

He explained that in the wake of recent fighting between the two rival forces, they can no longer access the markets in Jebel area due to fear of reprisal attacks from some of President Kiir's Dinka community members.

And Thomas Tut, who is also living at the Juba PoC, said the mandate of the regional force should be interventionist than mere protection in order to monitor and restrain violations of the peace agreement.

"There is need to reduce political violence for South Sudan to stabilize. If Juba is free then peace can come," he explained, adding that the intermittent fighting between rival forces on the periphery continues to undermine their hope of peaceful return home to build their lives. Endit