World / Africa
UN peacekeepers step up community contacts in Tonj
UN peacekeepers conducted patrols in Pagol, Aliek and Alabek in South Sudan’s Warrap State, the United Nations said Nov. 4, describing efforts to protect communities after violence in Greater Tonj.
Source-checked brief: attributed UN primary-source account; no on-location reporting.
UN peacekeepers have stepped up patrols in South Sudan’s Tonj County, in Warrap State, after deadly intercommunal violence in late October, the United Nations said Nov. 4.
Over two days, peacekeepers patrolled Pagol, Aliek and Alabek to deter violence and reassure communities, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said. Residents and local authorities continue to report displacement, cattle raiding and persistent intercommunal tensions, as well as an urgent need for humanitarian aid, he said.
The patrols follow violence in Greater Tonj on Oct. 26 that killed 72 people and injured 38, according to the UN. Dujarric said some stability has returned but the situation remains fragile, with armed youth present, water shortages and competition over grazing land posing increased risks.
The UN Mission in South Sudan is working with local authorities, national police and communities to strengthen civilian protection, address underlying grievances and prevent further escalation, the spokesman said. The briefing did not say how long the expanded patrols would continue.
What we know / what we don't
What we know
- UN peacekeepers conducted patrols in Pagol, Aliek and Alabek in South Sudan’s Warrap State, the United Nations said Nov. 4, describing efforts to protect communities after violence in Greater Tonj.
What we don't know
- This brief is based on the attributed UN statement; it is not independent field reporting.
The source record