UN peacekeeping chief: Malakal investigations finished, released soon
The head of United Nations global peacekeeping operations said two investigations into the February attack on a UN base in Malakal which left dozens dead will be made public very soon.
Herve Ladsous, undersecretary general for peacekeeping operations, said the two reports are finalized and will be sent to UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon in the next few days.
"I am not at liberty to comment on them because they are not out yet, but this will be made public very shortly now," Ladsous told a press conference in Juba.
On 17 and 18 February, violence erupted inside the UN base in Malakal where some 40,000 civilians had taken shelter. Dozens were killed in the incident, which pit Dinka fighters against those of Shilluk and Nuer.
The UN launched an investigation into the violence itself as well as an inquiry into UNMISS' response to the incident. UNMISS is mandated to protect civilians, but both South Sudan's government and armed opposition criticized the mission for failing to adequately do so in Malakal.
Ladsous said the situation in Malakal remains very fragile. There are some 32,000 Shilluk and Nuer people inside the UN base while some 8000 Dinka people live in the town itself.
When asked by a journalist what UNMISS would do if Malakal came under attack and the Dinka in town needed protection, Ladsous said: "We intend to be as proactive as possible whenever we have a specific situation, and both our military and our police component will do all they can, first, of course, about what is the core of our mandate which is the protection of civilians. Everything to be done to isolate them from the violence."
Ladsous said there is no purpose in setting up a new Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, "but we would be ready to take measures to at least give protection to people who would seek it. So we shall see, but hoping that it doesn't come to that."
The top peacekeeper noted that UNMISS has an operating base in Malakal town.
UNMISS has given conflicting information as to what happened in their base in February. Publicly they have said the base was attacked by armed men in uniform, though internal UNMISS documents published by Radio Tamazuj reveal that SPLA soldiers assaulted the base from outside.
Photo credit: UNMISS
Related:
S Sudan investigation committee calls for punishment of UN officials over Malakal deaths (21 May)
Malakal attack: What UN knew vs what it said (8 May)
Research group says attack on UN protection site in Malakal part of organized campaign (17 Mar.)