South Sudan’s minister of defense over the weekend called on the communities in Unity State to cease the practice of revenge killings and embrace peace with their neighbors.
Minister Angelina Teny made the remarks after she landed in Bentiu on Saturday to attend the ordination of a catholic priest there.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, she said that she had been updated on the escalating incidents of revenge killings and attacks in Unity State.
“As the national minister of defense, I am urging the people of a unity state to live in peace and not to by violating the rights of human beings,” she advised. “For those who are still in the training center, you will be graduated within a week.”
“As the government at the national level, we must protect citizens and provide them with security in all 10 states and 3 administrative areas,” Teny added.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor of Unity State, James Tor Tunguar, said they were waiting for a team from Juba to come graduate the unified forces in the state.
“We are only waiting for the team from Juba to come and witness the graduation of unified forces in Unity State,” he said.
Separately, Minister Teny visited the Bentiu displaced peoples camp on Monday after the facility was inundated as a result of a broken dyke on Sunday leading to floodwaters cutting off the UNMISS base from Rubkona County.
She said she would report the devastation occasioned by the floods to the presidency and aid agencies.
“We will visit all the affected people before I go back to juba,” Minister Teny said. “We will have enough reports for our presidency, the national government, and Non-Governmental Organizations that can support our community.”
One of the flood victims, Gabriel Gattiek Nger, said the floods destroyed all their property over the weekend and appealed for help from the government and humanitarian agencies.