South Sudan has never experienced any single year of peace and stability since it became a sovereign state on 9 July 2011, despite the existence of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – the successor of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). Gruesome massacres of unarmed civilians and other egregious atrocities committed by elements of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) – the successor of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) – or militia groups, have occurred even in the watch of UNMIS Peace Keeping Forces! Yet, the published mission of UNMISS, according to its official website (https://unmiss.unmissions.org/about-unmiss), is, among others, “Protection of Civilians”. Yet, a myriad of evidence, including eyewitness and human rights watch agencies’ reports, often illustrated with horrific images of charred bodies of children, women, and the elderly, has been consistently available.
The latest such images are of victims of an air raid by helicopter gunships belonging to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), whose Chief, Lieutenant-General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced on his social media (X.com) handle. The heart-breaking burnt bodies of children and their mothers massacred during their sleep on the night of 16-17 March 2025, speak volumes of daring defiance of the UN and international human rights conventions and treaties.
This open petition to UNMISS seeks sound and convincing answers to lingering questions and growing concerns. It is not lost on us, the concerned South Sudanese, that this public organization has a moral responsibility to protect lives and property. Likewise, in the interest of accountability, UNMISS is liable to account for its presence in South Sudan for 19 years.
Therefore, we as citizens of a UN Member State, request answers to the following questions:
1. When did UNMISS become aware of the conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and armed youth in Nasir?
2. What steps did UNMISS take before the operation to evacuate the SSPDF to assess the security situation and the potential risks involved?
3. Prior to these clashes, the First Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan and a Principal Peace Partner, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, had communicated concerns about certain actions and movements by the SSPDF. Why did UNMISS, along with the peace agreement signatories, not take any action to deter the conflict from erupting?
Mandate for military evacuations
- Under what mandate does UNMISS have the authority to conduct the evacuation of military personnel, including members of the SSPDF?
- If UNMISS has the mandate to evacuate military forces, why did it not rescue civilians during critical humanitarian crises such as in Juba 2013 and subsequently in Malakal, Bentiu, Abyei, and other parts of the country?
- Why did the UN not intervene to rescue civilians during the Rwanda genocide?
- What assurances of safe passage were received before the operation, and from which parties?
De-escalation methods
- What specific methods did UNMISS employ to prevent violence and de-escalate political tensions in Nasir before the evacuation attempt?
- Were there any direct negotiations between UNMISS and the armed youth involved in the clashes?
We request a detailed response outlining the de-escalation methods used, along with a comprehensive report on the botched evacuation process in Nasir.
Future role of UNMISS in civilian protection
- Will UNMISS, in the future, use its authority to rescue civilians under attack by the SSPDF or other armed groups such as the Jonglei herders in the Greater Equatoria region?
- How does UNMISS plan to respond to the recent escalating tensions and deteriorating security situation in Greater Upper Nile, Greater Western Equatoria, and Greater Western Bahr el Ghazal regions, as highlighted by the First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in his letters dated 20 and 27 February 2025?
The writer, Kiden Stephen, is a concerned citizen of South Sudan.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the author’s responsibility, not Radio Tamazuj.