Necessary Unified Forces pictured during the graduation parade at John Garang Mausoleum. | 30th August 2022. | Photo: Lou Nelson.

Some concerned members of the public are calling on the unity government to expedite the deployment of the unified forces in Upper Nile State amid reports of looming communal and factional tensions in the state.

This comes after the Troika countries and the UN Mission in South Sudan raised alarm over preparations for a renewed inter-communal violence in the state.

Early on Wednesday, UNMISS echoed calls on the country’s leaders to prevent further escalation of tensions in the Upper Nile region.

Speaking on Eye Radio’s Dawn program on Wednesday, the concerned regular callers said it is time that the unity government takes Troika’s Tuesday warning seriously and deploy the peace soldier to conflict prone areas in the country.

Kochok, an IDP at the UN camp in Juba urged the government to speed up the deployment of forces to prevent further bloodshed in the country.

He said the proliferation of guns in civilian hands has turned the upper Nile into a lawless state.

“We urge the government to complete the deployment of unified forces. Forces have been graduated and we are still witnessing a rise in insecurity and still no deployment of forces; let them be deployed in areas of conflict.”

“Citizens need a speedy development of forces so that there is stability. The truth is there is no stability in Upper Nile state, everyone is armed, and people have taken laws into their hands.”

More than 50,000 unified forces have been graduated by the the unity government from different training centers across the country.

But since their graduation, they have not been deployed to discharge their mandate despite rampant insecurity in many parts of the country.

Franko Sebit, a resident of Juba also said the increased conflict and insecurity in parts of the country is damaging the image of the country.

“The leadership of South Sudan should pay attention to these conflicts because the objective is simply the destruction of citizens. Our concern should be, what can we do to stop it before something bad happened.”

Meanwhile, Isaac, also a Juba resident stressed, it is time the National Legislative assembly criminalize civilians carrying guns by enacting a law.

“I want to address my concern to our national parliament because there is a need for a law criminalizing guns in the hand of civilians and rebellion in South Sudan,” he said.

Isaac added that the perennial conflicts in the greater Upper Nile region and greater Bar El Ghazal must be ended.

Tension in Upper Nile State

The UN Mission in South Sudan has called on the government to act fast and prevent further escalation of tensions in the Upper Nile region

The statement comes a day after the Troika countries expressed concerns about reports of preparations for renewed fighting in the area.

The UN mission raised similar concerns over the reported buildup of the Agwelek forces in the Upper Nile state in the past few days.

According to the peacekeeping mission, the buildup of military troops might is a security threat to civilians and affects humanitarian operations in Upper Nile and Northern Jonglei State.

“The United Nations Mission in South Sudan wishes to raise serious concerns over the reported buildup of the Agwelek forces in Upper Nile state in the past few days,” reads the statement by Linda Tom, the spokesperson of UNMISS.

The Mission urges these forces, loyal to General Johnson Olony, to refrain from any actions or movements that night pose threats to civilians and affect humanitarian operations in the Upper Nile and northern Jonglei.”

The UNMISS official said peacekeepers are increasing their presence in the area, and the mission is verifying reports of movements and mobilization.

Several calls to the Aqwelek leadership for comment went unanswered.