"UNMISS peace buildings: Did anyone see them in a Twic East County?"

Overview:

UNMIS were sent and dispatched on “the 1983-2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement” (CPA) monitoring mission to South Sudan and to also protect civilians as stipulated in UN charter book chapter VII after North-South Sudan signed agreements to stop power struggles in 2005 in Naivasha, Kenya. Protection of civilians became a focal point as they arrived in the South Sudan soil and was therefore placed as a top priority in the United Nations administration think tanks. 

As UNMIS arrived in South Sudan after long deliberation and contemplations, they found South Sudan and North Sudan’s Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) forces fused together and stationed in the Abyiei border on the mission to protect CPA protocol mandate and these JIU forces were like ad-hoc forces in the Government of National Unity (GONU) to which later desolved after 2011 referendum election with fifty plus (50+1) votes for secession.  Although these JIU forces were serving in the area of Abyei terrirory, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile area, they were serving with different vested interests and citizenship----these peace-keeping forces were drawn from South Sudan and the rest were drawn from North Sudan and put on mission together through regionally and international brokered peace deals stipulated in the January 9th, 2005 Naivasha-Kenya CPA six protocol mandates blue manual. With this potential factor within JIU forces, UNMIS peace-keeping and building forces arrived to bridge this hidden factor that might lead to civil war again in violation of CPA six protocol mandates for referendum after six years interval. 

UNMIS did not come to resolve domestic violences, however they came to monitor CPA protocol mandates stipulated in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) blue manual. Although they go from one state to other within South Sudan, they were not meant to stop domestic violences that interfered and confronted given South Sudan states like Jonglei and Lake State, where domestic violence was extremely rampaged over cattle rustling, children abduction and women kidnappings. Murle ethnic group from Pibor County, Jonglei State, South Sudan became a scapegoat in this domestic violences and was pin-pointed in every state like Jonglei and Lake State as intruders. Both states: Jonglei and Lake State in the riparian of river Nile basins became pivotal victims in this domestic violence to which UNMIS and South Sudan forces known as SPLA forces later reported as serious domestic violence in the post civil war. 

This domestic violence to which Murle ethnic group reported as an intruder was highly problematic and citizens’ safety and tranquility became a priority among the UNMIS administrations and government of South Sudan. Question became how to stop these ongoing domestic violences to which one ethnic group is stigmatized and officially compiled and reported by NGOS as local ethnic groups within Jonglei State and Lake State testified?

Local people from Twic East County, Jonglei State, South Sudan’s testimonial memoirs are as such:

Awak Bior Diing said:

“I saw UNMIS soldiers back in 2005 when CPA was signed, but never seen them again. I did not ask why they were here for; perhaps they came for peace buildings and keepings since it was still South Sudan-North Sudan Peace dividends was pre-mature. UNMIS only stationed in Panyagor Town, but did not walk to this village here in Pawel Town within Kongor Payam in Twic East County, Jonglei State and I did not know whether they headed to other villages rather than this village of ours. I was so curious to see them and maybe greet them or shake their hands if they had come to our village.”

On the question of ‘local Peace Initiative’, Awak Bior Diing said:

“Peace was done or made between Dinka community and Nuer community since there was tension on historical cattle stealing dated back to the 1991 to 1993 tribal split clashes ----both used to point fingers on themselves and decided to settle cases in 2003 Churches and Payam Chiefs from both communities called for peace initiative so that they stop the problems of cattle raiding apart from the ongoing of Murle tensions of cattle raiding primarily in Jonglei state. Well, they agreed to settle cases of cattle raiding and both said they will handle that, but later in few years after cattle raiding resumed again until now. We never pin-down and know cattle raiders whether they still come from the Nuer community of which we had drafted a peace initiative with them or not.” 

Ajang Nyuop Bol testified and said:

“On my way to Panyagor, I saw two (2) big trucks carrying UNMIS peace building troops heading to Pawel Town probably proceeding for Bor Town, two (2) heavy caravan Vans and one (1) fuel tank. Of course, they might be monitoring the referendum since people are contemplating for six years-fold term vote either for South Sudan secession or unity of North Sudan with South Sudan after two decades years of clash.”

Major Ayuen Anek, SPLA Force stationed in Panyagor Town, in Twic East County, Jonglei State said:

“I saw UNMIS delegation and forces as well heading to the office of referendum, but we did not have joint activities to protect civilians. Of course, they are working in peace dividend keeping and buildings, however Twic East County commissioner Dau Akoi knows more about UNMIS delegation in the areas now and before. I have seen them and greeted them as well. It was one time when I saw them with their vehicles and fighting tanks heading to the Ayod County pass Duk County.” 

Twic East County Commissioner Dau Akoi asserted: 

“I always meet with UNMIS delegation with their forces and even today had a contact with UNMIS in person. For instance, on the January 9th, 2011, around seventh (7) UNMIS delegation stopped by my office and of course, they come regularly before and even now during the referendum in protection of local people and monitoring of CPA peace dividends. Of course, UNMIS delegation can’t do anything with domestic issues such as livestock raiding, which has a highest bubbles and child abduction combined. It is none of their business and only local police forces, such as Twic East County Police forces can do that to protect and report what is happening in the ground with the civilians within Twic East County. Perhaps UNMIS can only report it if they happen to hear the problem.”