Hon. Monday Kumba, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs - Courtesy of the Office of the President

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has formally dismissed a series of allegations made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, labeling the findings as unsubstantiated and rooted in misinformation.

In a formal response to a March 10th UN news brief, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep disappointment,” charging that the High Commissioner’s report ignores the actual security and humanitarian situation in Northern Jonglei State.

National authorities maintained that recent hostilities in the region were triggered by attacks from the SPLM/A-IO and allied groups. The government asserted that these movements violated existing peace agreements and posed a direct threat to the capital, Juba.

In its defense, the government highlighted the launch of “Operation Enduring Peace” by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

Officials stated the operation was a necessary act of self-defense that successfully restored government control in affected towns. The statement further claimed that normalcy has since resumed and civilians who initially fled the fighting have returned to their homes.

The government issued a strong rebuttal to claims of human rights violations, specifically addressing allegations that water sources had been tampered with during the conflict.

“No single water source is contaminated or poisoned as claimed… anyone doubting these facts is free to visit and test water in those places,” the statement read.

Challenging the UN Human Rights Chief to provide concrete evidence, the government accused the high-level office of relying on “hearsay” rather than verified, first-hand information.

Despite the overall rejection of the UN report, the government reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law. Authorities confirmed that soldiers accused of killing civilians in Ayod County have been arrested and will face justice through the legal system.

Regarding the displacement of civilians, the government dismissed UN figures citing 280,000 displaced persons as “outdated.” The statement insisted there are currently no mass displacements in Jonglei, Lakes, or Upper Nile states.

Officials also defended the use of airstrikes, maintaining they targeted only rebel positions and that prior warnings were issued to minimize civilian presence in those areas.

The government concluded by urging the United Nations to rely on credible and verified sources in the future. It warned that inaccurate reporting risks damaging South Sudan’s international image at a sensitive time.

While defending its military and administrative actions, Juba reiterated its continued willingness to cooperate with international human rights bodies, provided that such engagements are based on factual reporting.