At least 13 people died and 20 were wounded in intercommunal violence that broke out on Thursday near the base of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal, the capital of Alto Nile state.
The mission announced that fighting began between two displaced communities as they sought refuge at the UN headquarters, known as the Malakal Protected Area, for civilian protection. Because the incident occurred close to UN offices, those injured were taken to the UNMISS hospital where they received medical care.
In the hours of the clash, peacekeepers on the ground quickly increased deployments to deescalate the situation. Soon after hearing gunfire, additional troops were deployed ashore to restore calm, according to the mission’s leadership in the state. Aldred Orono, head of UNMISS in Alto Nile, noted that peacekeeping forces routinely patrol the area, engage with local communities, and remain vigilant so they can respond promptly to any disturbance.
UNMISS called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged communities to exercise maximum restraint. The mission also expressed serious concern over the loss of life while underscoring that the primary duty of civilian protection rests with the Government of South Sudan. As a peacekeeping mission, its core mandate is to support the government in safeguarding civilians. The first pillar of protection is prevention, but tensions can flare up in moments in South Sudan, as Orono explained.
According to records from the International Organization for Migration, about 37,032 displaced people sought shelter in the Malakal Protected Area in December of the previous year.