U.N. boosts South Sudan troop force as ethnic violence flares
South Sudanese civilians have been fleeing their homes by the thousands in recent days as ethnic fighting spreads through the world’s newest country. More than half of the 81,000 known to have been displaced by the fighting have sought refuge at U.N. compounds like this one near Bor. (Rolla Hinedi / AFP/Getty Images)
By Carol J. Williams
The United Nations Security Council voted Tuesday to send 5,000 more troops to South Sudan to tackle a wave of ethnic and political violence that has killed hundreds of people, perhaps thousands, and driven at least 81,000 from their homes.
The action by the world body will boost the U.N. troop presence to 12,500, as soon as peacekeepers can be redeployed from other African missions for the temporary buildup. The extra troops, as well as more than 400 more U.N. police, are expected to temporarily transfer to South Sudan from missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Darfur region in neighboring Sudan, Ivory Coast and Liberia.
The unanimous vote to augment the international community’s presence in South Sudan followed word by the U.N. human rights chief of a mass grave discovered in Bentiu, in Unity state, with at least 34 bodies buried in a pit or dumped at a nearby river. The victims were thought to be ethnic Dinkas from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.
Fighting has been ignited by a political dispute between President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, and his former vice president, Riek Machar, who is of the Lou Nuer population. Kiir sacked Machar in July, accusing his supporters of plotting a coup.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, has been convulsed by violence for the last 10 days, which has paralyzed the vital oil industry, which provides 98% of the new country’s income. More than 80,000 people have fled their homes, with more than half of them taking refuge at U.N. compounds, the world body said in a statement.
“There is a palpable fear among civilians of both Dinka and Nuer backgrounds that they will be killed on the basis of their ethnicity,” Pillay said. “There need to be clear statements and clear steps from all those in positions of political and military control that human rights violations will not be tolerated and those responsible will be brought to justice.”
Pillay urged the Security Council, the U.N.’s only body authorized to deploy military force, to bolster the peacekeeping mission to deter any further spread of conflict.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the 15-member council for its swift action minutes after the vote Tuesday afternoon. The council also authorized the deployment of 423 more U.N. police, bringing the total to 1,323.
“The world is watching and the world is acting,” Ban told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York. “I welcome today’s resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and opening of dialogue and demanding that all parties cooperate fully with our peacekeeping mission.”
He added that he remained “deeply concerned” about growing violence in many parts of South Sudan.
U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry urged the South Sudanese factions to immediately cease hostilities and begin political talks, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. She said U.S. special envoy Donald Booth was in Juba on Tuesday to attempt to secure final commitment from Kiir and Machar to bring an end to the fighting, which is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
“Violence today will not pave the way for a more stable or prosperous tomorrow,” Psaki quoted the U.S. government as saying in a statement.
