State officers implicated in deadly Jonglei, Pibor clashes

At least 50 chiefs, SSPDF officers, state officials funded and coordinated the deadly attacks that left several people dead, injured and displaced in Greater Jonglei and Pibor Administrative Area last year.

According to a March 2021 report by UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the attacks— which happened from January 2020 to August—were well planned by community leaders, and had the influence all the way from the government in Juba. The state has however denied the findings of this report in its rejoinder.

The UNMISS report gives a blow-by-blow narration of how the perpetrators held meetings to kill, maim and abduct their perceived ‘enemies’ from other communities.

To authenticate its report, the UNMISS has revealed that it interviewed 225 victims and witnesses of the human rights violations such as rape, killings and abduction over that period. In addition, it interviewed 70 members of armed militias drawn from three tribes that clashed to dig deeper into the details.

The report partly states: ‘‘In order to verify the abuses of international human rights law documented in this report, HRD reinforced its field teams in Bor (Jonglei) and Pibor (GPAA), and conducted eight long-duration field missions between January and November 2020 to villages and settlements attacked by community-based militias, including Gumuruk, Likuangole, Manyabol, Motot and Pieri.’’

In 112 paragraphs, the report highlights how the violence was coordinated and executed by communities living in Duk, Twic East, Anyidi, Uror, Akoko, Nyirol, Ayod, Likuangole, Gumruk, Manaybol, Verthet and Maruwa Hills.

Phase of violence

In the first phase, between January 18 and 26, the report indicates that tension built up making an armed group from community Y to attack Lokoromach Payam before proceeding to Gie Payam. They found slight resistance from community X, which they thwarted to proceed to seize Likuangole.

On February, militias from community A and those of community B teamed up to attack Manyabol village inhabited by community X. The attack culminated seizure of 51 villages and massive cattle theft.

‘‘HRD’s findings established that, in some circumstances, the attacks were well organised prior to the launching of a tactical assault. For instance, by blocking possible escape routes for local populations,’’ the report reads.

The second phase of the attack was in May 2020 which took place in Pieri-a place revered by community Y as a spiritual hub.

Militias of community X attacked Y in 28 villages in Pieri prompting a response from SSPDF officers from community Y to respond and escalate the violence. The third phase of violence took place in Gumuruk and Manyabol areas and it involved a team up by militias drawn from communities A and B who attacked members of community X.

‘‘Supported by a web of spiritual, administrative and political actors, as well as individuals from the security forces, the community-based militias operating in Jonglei and GPAA showed that, as collective entities, they had command structures with known leaders and enough ability to ensure discipline through internal and community norms,’’ the UNMISS notes on the coordination of the attack.

Executions

The report approximates that at least 39,000 people may have participated in the deadly attacks, and had the blessing of community leaders from varying levels.

It states in part: ‘‘As for the [community X] militia, influential political leaders and traditional chiefs supported the mobilisation of armed elements according to age-sets.’’

 So determined were the warriors that boys aged 18 and above were forcefully recruited into the militias. Those who resisted risked stigmatisation by their peers.

The report attributes the wars to cattle theft, retaliation and abduction. In an extreme circumstance, a spiritual leader from community Y even blessed the warriors before embarking on attack missions.

It turned into an ugly spectacle. The report accuses members of SSPDF from a certain two communities for joining the fight against another at Manyabol.

It states: ‘‘some SSPDF personnel, as well as high-ranking officers, in their individual capacity and according to their community kinship, either supported or actively took part in the clashes in Jonglei and GPAA.

‘‘Overall, at least eight commanders of the security forces reportedly community-based militias involved in armed violence in Jonglei and GPAA.

‘‘It is likely that political and local administrative authorities from the [three] communities were well aware of the planning and execution of the attacks. Some actively participated in the planning, while others provided logistical support, shelter or financial incentives to militia elements.’’

The UN now wants the government to conduct investigations into the allegations of human rights abuses and killings and take action against the perpetrators. Also, it wants the government to release a report by High-Level Committee which was formed by President Salva Kiir probe the human rights violations last year.

The government has however denied that SSPDF officers and government officials were the perpetrators of the wars, adding that they [clashes] were ‘community-centric.’

‘‘There is no concrete evidence to prove the allegation that some rank-and file personnel and officers of SSPDF either supported or took part in clashes in Jonglei and GPAA,’’ the government states.

‘‘R-TGoNU would be thankful to UNMISS if it can provide it with specific details that would assist the government in conducting investigations to bring to justice those government officials SSPDF alleged by the report..’’

UNMISS approximates that 1,058 people were fell victims during the clashes. Part of this, 39 women were raped 686 women and children were abducted.

Editor’s Note: Letters X and Y, A and B have been used to conceal names of communities implicated in the report. This is a part of our editorial policy to avoid incitement to violence. To reveal the names and read them verbatim, you can download the official document from our website.