The United Nations says that the South Sudanese army SPLA have been conducting “military operations” in areas of Wau County, citing reports of clashes on Saturday.
According to Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, such operations would constitute violations of the ceasefire.
He said yesterday, “UNMISS received reports that clashes took place between the SPLA and Opposition forces in Bisselia, Bazia, Farajallah and Bringi, Wau County in Western Bahr-El-Ghazal on Saturday.”
“Since 5 December, the SPLA has reportedly been conducting military operations in areas of Bazia-Bisselia-Wau. The Mission is concerned by these reports of violations of the ceasefire and continues to urge for the full implementation of the peace agreement,” said the UN spokesman.
Farhan Haq did not provide more details about the SPLA operations.
The spokesman’s remarks come after a journalist in New York revealed that the UN Mission in South Sudan had some knowledge of the attacks but had initially chosen to remain silent.
Matthew Russell Lee, the New York-based journalist, published an internal UNMISS report saying that the SPLA clashed with opposition forces in the mentioned areas starting on Saturday night. The report said there was “no further information regarding this fighting.”
The UNMISS internal report further stated the SPLA soldiers were blocking Wau airport road and restricting movement around the airport and that the UN had restricted its own travel within Wau city.