South Sudan’s National Civil Society Coalition has urged caretaker governors and chief administrators to prioritize dialogue and local peace initiatives to address rising communal violence across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday, the coalition said communal conflicts had increased over the past three months in Lakes, Jonglei, Unity, Warrap and Upper Nile states, as well as Ruweng and Abyei administrative areas.
Coalition chairperson Bol Deng Bol attributed the violence to the widespread availability of firearms among civilians, long-standing unresolved disputes, hunger and youth unemployment.
“In just about three months, we have observed an increase in communal conflicts across the country, most of which turned violent,” he said. “Most of these conflicts have persisted because arms are easily accessed and widely available in the hands of civilians, underlying communal conflicts have been strategically kept unaddressed for a long time, and widespread hunger and youth unemployment at the sub-national level.”
The coalition cautioned that continued communal violence could undermine South Sudan’s political transition as the country prepares for elections.
It called on caretaker administrations to develop clear plans to resolve existing disputes and prevent future violence.
The group also urged the national government to support local peace initiatives and deploy organized security forces where necessary to help restore and maintain peace.
The National Civil Society Coalition brings together civil society networks from South Sudan’s ten states and three administrative areas.
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