The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has expressed concern over continuing tribal clashes, which led to the death of another UN peacekeeper from Pakistan on 28 January.
The latest killing follows the killing of a Ghanaian peacekeeper on January 27, the mission said in a press release on Monday.
“As part of its mandate to protect civilians, UNISFA has allowed all persons at imminent risk to seek refuge in some of its camps,” the statement read.
“On Sunday, while the affected civilians were being transported from the UNIFIL base to the hospital, peacekeepers came under heavy gunfire, during which a Pakistani peacekeeper was killed and four members of the mission and a civilian were injured.”
“UNICEF expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the peacekeepers who were killed, and wishes the injured a speedy recovery,” the mission said.
The mission strongly condemned these new attacks against civilians and peacekeepers, and stressed that violence against the Blue Helmets may constitute war crimes under international law.
“UNICEF is working with local authorities to verify the number of dead, injured and displaced, and according to local authorities, 52 civilians were killed, 64 seriously injured.
The mission said it was making every effort to restore calm, including proactively and forcefully protecting civilians, and reiterated its call for a prompt investigation so that the perpetrators could be held accountable.
Troika condemns killings in Abyei
In a statement on Monday, the embassies of Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States strongly condemned a series of armed attacks on 27 and 28 January on the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) base targeting mission personnel.
Some 50 civilians were killed in Abyei, including two peacekeepers, and several other UNISFA members were injured, with more civilian casualties.
“We express our deepest condolences to the families of peacekeepers and civilians who lost their lives, and we stand with our UNISFA colleagues during this difficult time, condemn in the strongest terms the targeting of UN peacekeepers and call for those responsible for these attacks to be held accountable,” the troika said in a statement.
“We are deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in recent months between communities living in and around the Abyei area.”
The troika called on South Sudan’s political and community leaders to move quickly to end the conflict.
All leaders who have influence over the communities concerned and who fail to use it to support peace show disregard for the interests of the peoples of the world.
