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UN mission denies backing South Sudan's operations against rebels

Xinhua, January 17, 2017 Adjust font size:

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday denied facilitating government's security crackdown on the rebel SPLA-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) in the world's youngest nation.

In a statement issued in Juba, UNMISS said its bound by strict codes of impartiality in the exercise of its duties in South Sudan and dismissed accusations by the SPLA-IO and other social media comments.

"The Mission unconditionally denies the false and misleading assertions made both in the statement and associated with misrepresentative photographs that have been shared through social media," it said.

It said the photos depict a cease-fire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) monitoring and verification team meeting with SPLA liaison officers in the context of their mandated work under the peace agreement in investigating violations of the ceasefire.

UNMISS said it's mandated by the Security Council to provide logistical support to the work of CTSAMM in the field.

"These standards stipulate that UNMISS operate without favor or bias toward any one group, fairly, transparently, and impartially, with the sole aim of achieving much-needed peace for all the people of South Sudan, regardless of affiliation," the statement said.

The UN mission reminded all sides that the UN is not a party to the conflict, and is in South Sudan to support the achievement of peace, noting that dangerous statements of this nature which are not founded in fact, have the potential to incite backlash against the UN, while also discrediting the sacrifices of peacekeepers in South Sudan.

In July 2016, the youngest nation was plunged into fresh violence due to clashes between rival forces -- the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), loyal to President Salva Kiir, and the SPLA-In-Opposition, backing former First Vice-President Riek Machar.

That led to deaths and injuries, including many civilians and several UNMISS peacekeepers, jeopardizing the peace agreement between the political rivals in August 2015, which formally ended their differences. Endit