JUBA – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday expressed fears of escalated violence in the country’s already fragile Jonglei State after reports that of mass mobilization among armed Nuer youth there.

“The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is deeply concerned about reported mobilization of armed Nuer youth in the Greater Jonglei area. Such mobilizations have the potential to trigger violent attacks that can gravely impact the civilian population,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Any such upsurge of conflict will undermine recent peace gains achieved through a rapprochement between the leaders of Jonglei state and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). The Mission appreciates proactive engagements by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan with involved youth leaders to de-escalate hostilities and restore calm,” the mission added.

While stressing the loss of lives caused by similar mobilization, the UN mission said it has continued to deploy resources in a bid to help in ensuring civilians’ safety and said that protection of citizens lies in the hand of the government of South Sudan.

“While the primary responsibility for protecting civilians lies with the Government, UNMISS continues to deploy all available resources and make every effort to ensure the safety and security of affected populations,” the statement said.

“Similar incidents in the past have resulted in the loss of lives, abduction of women and children, displacement of thousands of civilians, and destruction of property,” it added.

The world mission which has been using peacekeepers to protect civilians since the outbreak of violence in December 2013 further called “on leaders of the Lou Nuer and Murle communities to exert positive and constructive influences on their youth groups, encouraging them to embrace dialogue and refrain from using violence as a means of resolving grievances.”

It also “urges community leaders to ensure the release of previously abducted women and children, and the return of looted cattle to their rightful owners, to foster reconciliation and respect for fundamental human rights.” - Sudans Post

The government of Rwanda has welcomed the ruling by the High Court of the United Kingdom which gave a green light to the policy to transfer of illegal immigrants to Rwanda from the European country.

In April, Rwanda and the UK signed the partnership that would see migrants and asylum seekers who are illegally in the UK transferred to Rwanda.

The transfer of the first group, which was initially slated for June, was however disrupted by a last minute court injunction, after some of the migrants petitioned courts claiming it was an illegal process.

The legal challenges were however dismissed on Monday by the country’s high court, saying the transfer of the migrants to Rwanda was legal and consistent with the refugee convention of 1951.

"We welcome this decision and stand ready to offer asylum seekers and migrants safety and the opportunity to build a new life in Rwanda. This is a positive step in our quest to contribute to innovative, long-term solutions to the global migration crisis," reads a government statement.

The unique pact dubbed the Migration and Economic Development Partnership concerns all the migrants and asylum seekers who arrived in the UK illegally from January 1, 2022.

According to the arrangement, the migrants who will be transferred to Rwanda will be facilitated to start new life, including being facilitated to get “secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.”

The UK will also support in terms of accommodation prior to local integration and resettlement.

The ruling has also been welcomed by Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister and his predecessor Boris Johnson, with the latter saying that this was “the only humane ways of dealing with the trafficking gangs who are exploiting many people.” - The New Times