Hilde F Johnson, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan

The UN Mission in South Sudan says it has been wrongly accused of misdoing and breaching the Status of Force Agreement with the government since the crisis begun in December 2013.

UNMISS has presented to the government a document containing 12 allegations against them, which they deny.

The government has in the past 3 months accused UNMISS of aiding the SPLM –in Opposition and transporting weapons to Unity State without its consent.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in South Sudan told the press today that the document sent to the government contains evidences that the allegations are incorrect.

“The high-level investigation team from New York has confirmed that there were no landmines and no anti-aircraft missiles in the cargo,” said Ms Hilde Johnson.

“They verified that the weapons did belong, through serial numbers, to the Ghanaian Battalion that was deployed to UNMISS and that there was no evidence or indication or any intention of support by individuals of UNMISS to the opposition forces.”

Ms Johnson said UNMISS is not taking sides in the South Sudan conflict.

She condemned what she calls “hostile rhetoric” against UNMISS operation in the country.

“These include harassment and the abuse by the security forces at checkpoints, interferences with the freedom of movement and the denial of access,” she added.

“Such actions not only run counter to the agreement signed between UNMISS and South Sudan, but also endangers the lives of staff and gravely hinders our operations. Such threats and attacks constitute violations of international law. We ask that the perpetrators of such acts do not remain unpunished and be held accountable.”

UNMISS denies being biased in the investigations it conducted on cases of human rights violations committed by the warring parties from Mid-December.

The document indicates that an interim investigation was released in February which shows the atrocities and violations committed by both sides to the conflict.

Madam Hilde Johnson said that a comprehensive investigation report would be presented to the public by the end of this month.