JUBA
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has reiterated its impartiality in that country's ongoing conflict and refuted accusations leveled by the Juba government regarding recently-seized arms and weapons.
"UNMISS is not taking sides in the conflict," Hilde Johnson, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and head of UNMISS, told a Thursday press briefing.
"While we cooperate fully with the democratically elected government of South Sudan in accordance with our mandate, the mission has remained and will remain impartial in the current military conflict as instructed by the [U.N.] Security Council," she said.
South Sudan has been shaken by violence since last December, when President Salva Kiir accused sacked vice president Riek Machar of attempting to overthrow his regime.
The violence has already claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The U.N. estimates that some 3.7 million South Sudanese are now "severely food insecure," while more than 867,000 have been displaced by the violence.
The warring rivals are currently in Addis Ababa for another round of peace talks.
Following weeks of talks in the Ethiopian capital, the two sides signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in January.
-Not arming rebels-
The U.N. mission chief denied accusations that the mission was arming Machar's rebels.
"It is also important to make it clear that allegations that have recently been made against UNMISS were completely unfounded," Johnson told reporters.
"The high-level investigation team from New York has confirmed that there were no landmines or anti-aircraft missiles in the cargo," she said.
"They verified that the weapons did belong to the Ghanaian Battalion, and that there was no evidence or indication of any intention of support by individuals of UNMISS to the opposition forces," Johnson added.
"We appreciate that the government, as a result of their own review, yesterday released the cargo, including arms and ammunition to UNMISS," said the U.N. official.
She also complained of continuing hostility towards the U.N. mission and its staff "on the ground."
"At the same time, while the hostile rhetoric against UNMISS by some individuals has subsided, our operations – and those of the humanitarian agencies – are still encountering serious challenges on the ground," Johnson said.
"This includes harassment and abuse by security forces at checkpoints, interference with freedom of movement and denial of access," she added.
The U.N. official went on to cite more than 35 such incidents against UNMISS staff and operations in recent weeks.
"Such threats and attacks constitute violations of international law. We ask that the perpetrators of such acts do not remain unpunished and [that they] be held accountable," she said.
-Rights abuses-
The U.N. mission chief also condemned ongoing humanitarian abuses in the country.
"UNMISS condemns the continuing perpetration of human rights abuses in the strongest possible terms and calls on all parties to the current crisis to desist from committing additional atrocities," she said.
"So far, investigators have faced several challenges from both parties in gathering information in some of the areas that have allegedly been scenes of violations," Johnson added.
"This is not acceptable," she asserted. "We urge all parties to the conflict to fully cooperate and facilitate human rights investigations."
By Okech Francis
englishnews@aa.com.tr
