UN Security Council urges ceasefire in South Sudan

(Vatican Radio) The United Nations Security Council has called for the release of political prisoners in South Sudan as a step towards the agreement of a ceasefire between the government and rebel forces. Political instability has plagued the world’s newest country since President Salva Kiir sacked deputy Riech Makar in July, accusing him of plotting a coup. Ethnic tensions developed between Mr Kiir’s Dinka people and Mr Makar’s Nuer, eventually leading to violence which has left more than 1000 people dead since fighting broke out in December, according to UN statistics.

Mr Kiir’s troops scored an important victory on Friday, recapturing the oil-rich town of Bentiu. The government is now said to be mobilising thousands of soldiers for an attack on Bor, the last major town controlled by the rebels. In the meantime, Mr Makar has said he wants 11 prisoners to be released before he will consider a cessation of hostilities. His request is being backed by the UN Security Council in the hope of reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Giulia Cirillo spoke to Marko Lesukat, who is in South Sudan as Regional Disaster Risk Management Manager for Plan International, to find out more about the interests behind this conflict and about the desperate humanitarian situation on the ground. Listen to the full interview:

“The Republic of South Sudan depends, depended, and will depend on an oil-dependent economy. So for that reason, this will soon turn into the conflict of oil. This started out as a political crisis, and it turned out into an ethnic conflict between the Nuer and Dinka, now again it has turned back to what they call the war of the oil.

As we are speaking right now, there are over 200,000 that have been displaced. I have been in a transitional camp, or a settlement, 30km from Bor for instance called Awerial, where I witnessed 84,000 people just camping in the open. And more are coming daily – in fact the reports are 2000 daily are running from Bor alone. So people are just running away, they just get settled anywhere that they can, without any services – no food, no water, very poor sanitation. People are not protected, they are not secure, girls are exposed to all sorts of violence, so the humanitarian situation is dire.

Number one right now is security. There must be a suspension of hostilities everywhere in South Sudan, not only in the oil areas – no one is secure in South Sudan. No one will win out of this war. People are dying, people are traumatised. I think the world must act now, and the church. I remember I worked in South Sudan for many years from 2001, during the war – the church has always had a part in peace-building. Where is the church in all this? We need to see not only the political class, but also the church taking its role.”