IDPs accused UNMISS of “selling IDPs” in South Sudan conflict to expand its mandates
Sep 23, 2020(SSNN) — Members of South Sudan’s Internally Displaced community, the IDPs, who are speaking out, believe that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS) is doctoring its mandates in favor of Salva Kiir government to be able to raise more funding and expand its mission.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit meets head of UNMISS and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General David Shearer (Photo: Supplied)
A group of international displaced persons interviewed by South Sudan News Now (SSNN) within the last two weeks repeatedly narrated how the security situation remains volatile and could fall apart any minute but the UNMISS has taken a position they believe is contrary to the facts on the ground.
Speaking on behalf of the IDPs in Juba, Stephen Bol Bol, confirmed that the UNMISS has began withdrawing the peacekeepers but to where remains a question.
“We understand that there is a relative calm here in Juba but that does not mean that there is no need to impose peace. We are all trying to live in peace but there is no peace in this country”
“The peace that was brought here in 2018 has not gone anywhere. There is no security arrangement, no unified forces and no nothing, so why would UNMISS believes that there is peace when mathianganyoors are still occupying our homes?” Bol continued.
“”None of that has changed, we are dealing with the same monster, they can kill us or rape our women and girls any time. Basically the decision of the head of UNMISS is a personal decision that is motivated by personal gaints and favors” He added.
Like Bol Bol, Eliza Mabil said the camps have been targeted a lot in this conflict and therefore the UN peacekeepers, who did not do very well in places like Bor and Malakal, should always remain on guards.
“IDPs have been one of the main targets in this conflicts. The camps have been targeted, burned down and many innocent individuals have been killed in Malakal, Bor and even here in Juba” Eliza said.
Joining the interview, John Kuol acknowledged that the UN Mission in South Sudan has had rough relationship with the government for protecting the IDPs but this shouldn’t be the right time for the UNMISS to give up on civilians they have protected for years.
“We understand that the UNMISS has been having rough relationship with the government for protecting the vulnerable IDPs and now maybe giving them up to the government could improve their relationship but is that the right thing to do?” Kuol said.
“Maybe we are being sold for something bigger for the UNMISS in the country. This is not done because there are good prospects for peace but it is motivated by individuals initerests within the UNMISS” He continued.
“We believe that all this originated from the head of UNMISS who is giving false information to the UN Secretary General for him to get along with President Kiir and his brutal regime” John said.
According to John, the UNMISS decision does not consider the best interest of the suffering populations but only serves the intererest of the government and the UNMISS.
“We understand that the government feels ashamed that hundreds of thousands of IDPs live in concentrated camps. It proves to donors and investors that South Sudan is a high risk place to invest in and as such the government is doing everything to kick the IDPs out of the camps for them to be able to attract investors and donors to give them free money” He explains.
Another commentator, Taban Isaac, said the UNMISS has its own agenda and this is being motivated by the need to gain more access to expand its mandates.
“We are being sold out by the UNMISS that came to save us and we know why they are doing this” Isaac said.
“The UN Mission is trying to gain more access to other areas that they do not currently have mandates in. With more areas of coverage, they will be able to raise more money from donors and that is basically how the UN works” He continued.
Another IDP, Mary John, a mother of three children whose husband was killed in 2013, called on the UNMISS to revert its decision appealing that they have no where to go.
“Surely, this is not the right time to abundant us. We have no place to go to. We have no relatives or fathers to protect us.” Mary said.
“The peacekeepers are all that give us confidence to live here, otherwise, we would have gone to the refugee camps” She continued.
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