Unified soldiers at a training center. | 23RD August 2022. | Photo: Lou Nelson/Eye Radio.

An official of the UN Mission in South Sudan warned Thursday that military defections among parties to the 2018 peace deal threaten and undermine trust in the transitional process.

Guang Cong, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in the country said UNMISS welcomes the recent deployment of the unified forces to Upper Nile State, which he said, is encouraged by reports further deployments.

But he stated; “we reiterate that military defections threaten and undermine trust between the parties.”

“We also caution against the temptation towards unilateral actions and that the parties should take measures to de-escalate hostilities, using peaceful means to resolve disputes.”

He was speaking during the 23rd Plenary Meeting of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission in Juba on Thursday.

Cong further calls for dialogue among the peace parties to address “pending technical and operational decisions needed for the elections to take place on time.”

On November 28, 2-23, UNMISS said it took notes of an attack by pro-government forces and armed youth on the Kai Gai base of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLM-IO), Unity State.

The deadly clashes were reportedly triggered by the defection of some military generals from the SPLA-IO into the SSPDF.

UNMISS boss Nicholas Haysom expressed concerns over the violence. He said thousands of civilians fled from the affected areas and sought refuge in Leer town.