Peace monitors warn S. Sudan's army over violence in Upper Nile

Peace monitors on Friday warned South Sudan army command to stop all on-going violence in the country immediately.

Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) chairman, Festus Mogae said they have confirmed the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) was responsible for the violence which has rocked northeastern Upper Nile region.

Mogae said a verification body, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) team is monitoring the situation closely and expect all combatants to cease hostilities immediately.

"If command and control is still in place and hostilities do not end then we will know who is responsible for ignoring our demands for a cessation of violence, perpetuating violence and conflict, the displacement of civilians, and the human rights violations taking place around the country under their watch," he said in a statement.

He said CTSAMM are currently receiving reports regarding the alleged movement of SPLA toward areas housing displaced civilian populations in Upper Nile, specifically Kodok and Aburoc.

CTSAMM have requested immediate permission to visit Kodok in Upper Nile State where the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that offensive operations have intensified recently and up to 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes on the West Bank of the Nile in the past week.

CTSAMM is a body established by the provision of August 2015 peace accord to monitor and evaluate ceasefire violations.

The conflict has taken a devastating toll on the people of South Sudan where an estimated 7.5 million people are in need of relief and protection, and the humanitarian crisis has deepened further with localized famine declared in parts of the country. Endit