Government forces and aligned youth's violated South Sudan’s ceasefire in a September attack in Jezeera, Unity state, the country’s ceasefire monitors said in a report published today.

On September 25th, government forces made a decision to “chase the SPLM/A-IO from the area”, acting Northern Liech state governor John Joal was quoted as saying in the report from the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM).

At least 200 youth from the Nhialdiu area were mobilized by government officials, according to CTSAMM. Days before the attack, it says that government forces evacuated the Nhialdiu with no reason given, setting the scene for the fighting.

All evidence collected “suggests that the government forces attacks against the SPLM/A-IO positions were deliberately planned,”, the report said, calling it a “deliberate operation to eject SPLM/A-IO forces from the Jazeera area,” 

Since South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013, the northern region of Unity State has seen intense fighting. The report called the situation in the state volatile following clashed in the capital of Juba in July. More than 100,000 people are currently living in the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site.

“It is vital that the situation is stabilized in order for the peace process to continue and its provisions implemented,” the report said.

The repot recommended that ceasefire monitors work with the relevant political and militate leadership from both sides of the conflict to stop fighting.