CTSAMVM Condemns Repeated Clashes in Nasir, Urges Restraint

By Taban Gabriel

The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement and Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), in its technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, condemned the “repeated” clashes in Nasir County of Upper Nile State between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and armed civilians while calling for restraint in the area.

CTSAMVM Chairperson Maj Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew said his organization registered two separate incidents this year alone involving worrying parties in the “war-ravaged” Nasir County, the most recent one occurring on October 16^th -17^th, 2024.

“As referenced in the last CTSAMVM Technical Committee meeting. We have one violation report to discuss today. This report relates to clashes between armed civilians and the SSPDF in Nasir County August 2024. This is the second report so far this year about clashes in the same area, and we continue to register further clashes in Nasir” Yitayal said

“The report draws upon extensive witness accounts, including individuals who participated in the clashes and the civil society members impacted” he added.

The CTSAMVM boss said the discontented revelries continue to fight despite a ceasefire effort by his institution

“Despite de-escalating efforts, the area remains volatile. A significant trust deficit must be addressed through genuine confidence-building measures if all parties are to coexist peacefully” he reiterated.

While responding to the report, a senior representative of the SSPDF, Maj. Gen. Robi Mujung Emmanuel, expressed his party’s apprehension about the fighting in Nasir and call for restrain.

“Chairman, I also would like to say, we as ITGONU representatives, are very disappointed with the continued clashes at Nasir between the SSPDF forces and the armed civilians, including the youth and the white army. This is very disappointing, and we consider the role of the security forces, including the military are to protect the security and property of the civil population,” Mujung said

The SPLA-IO representative Maj. Gen Andrea Mangu blamed the Nasir’s incidents on the delay in the implementation of some of the provisions in the security mechanism and calls for withdrawals of all forces involved in the fighting.

“On our side as IO, we condemned such an incident very seriously, and we urged our partner to remove the forces in the location where they are in Nasir, and that has to be replaced by the unified forces”

The SPLA-IO Gen. Andrea expressed doubt on the extension of the transitional period as a means to implement the remaining provisions.

“We have covered six years monitoring security arrangements, and yet nothing has been done to the extent that our forces may be satisfied with. How do you think when someone is dumped somewhere for almost six to seven years without feeding, shelter, and health care, what do you expect to come out of them, like what is taking place in Nasir, the ground is already prepared for the armed groups to do whatever that they want” Gen Andrea said

SOA representative, Maj. Gen. Jany Kaway Yoakhor questions the persistence of the conflict in Nasir and calls for CTSAMVM to investigate the causes.

“Regarding the incident of the fighting that happened between the SSPDF and the civilians in Nasir town, CTSAMVM must find the root causes of the conflict. Why has this town been at war for six years? What is going on?” he questions.

Major General Bior Leek Kaureng, representative of Former Political Detainees (FDs), urges the Revitalized Government of National Unity (R-TGONU) to take drastic measures, “Especially within the NTC because it seems that they don’t understand the meaning of security mechanism”

CTSAMVM chairperson, in his concluding remarks, encouraged donors to continue supporting sustainable peace in South Sudan.