South Sudan government blames UN over Malakal killings

The criticism followed fighting at the UNMISS Protection of Civilians site on February 17 and 18 which lasted three hours and killed 20 people, including two workers from the international medical charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

One of the MSF staff was killed while trying to provide medical assistance to people wounded in the fighting and the organisation said it had received further reports that other people who tried to put out fires or help the wounded were deliberately targeted and shot.

In total, 108 injured people were taken into the MSF hospital for treatment, including 46 with gunshot wounds, the charity said in a press release.

The government formed an investigation committee, headed by the former Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State, Manasseh Lomule Waya who handed the investigation report to President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Since South Sudan’s civil war started more than two years ago, the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension. Most soldiers of South Sudan’s national army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), are from the Dinka tribe, while members of Riek Machar’s SPLM/A-In Opposition forces are largely Nuer.

Added to the mix in Malakal are the Skilluk, who claim the city as their historic home.

Around 48,000 people have taken refuge in the camp, which was supposed to be protected by the blue-helmeted United Nations peace keepers.

The incident came amid hopes that an August 2015-signed peace deal between President Kiir and Vice President Machar, the main opposition leader, may be finally about to be implemented.

The incident in Malakal, carried out in front of UN peacekeepers, raised questions about whether peace is possible and what role the UN can play in defending the population.

Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said that the UNMISS completely failed to perform its functions and duties. He also accused the international body in Malakal of not cooperating with the committee that was sent by the government to investigate the matter.

“The committee was not allowed to enter the POC site and civilians while IDPs in the camp were not allowed to come out and meet the committee. That was obstruction,” Makuei told journalists.

Meanwhile, UNMISS Spokesperson Ariane Quatier declined to comment on the government report. “What I can tell you is that we have the board of inquiries which has been appointed by the department of peacekeeping operations in New York and we are in the process of doing our own investigation and that we will look into the situation,” Quatier told The Niles.

Makuei stressed that the resolution will be shared with UNMISS so it will be aware of whatever action the government plans to take. The UNMISS is yet to receive a report, Quatier said.

The UN officially said the violence was due to fighting between residents of the camp but AFP reported that government troops had been involved, citing a resident’s testimony and a confidential communication from the UNMISS.

During the attacks, around 15,000 shelters were burned to the ground.

The United Nations Security Council, in response to the incident in Malakal, stressed that attacks against civilians and United Nations premises may constitute war crimes.

Control of Malakal has changed hands between the government and opposition more times than locals can count, and they have routinely had to flee from violence.

Many of the displaced come from the nearby Malakal town, which sits on the east bank of the White Nile. It was once the second-largest city in South Sudan, but is now a garrison town of destroyed buildings, burned cars. It is largely empty except for men with guns slung over their shoulders racing around in trucks.

According to the government and UNMISS, the situation in the camp has returned to normal and people are getting on with their daily lives.