JUBA, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's ceasefire monitors on Thursday called for urgent action to address growing security threats ahead of the general elections scheduled for December.
Wuoi Mayom Deng, a senior government representative at the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), urged authorities to tackle critical issues, including ongoing armed recruitment, troop mobilization, and the deliberate spread of fear among local communities.
"As the elections draw near, we are witnessing a surge in activity by elements who would rather see the electoral process collapse rather than allow the people to decide," Deng said during the ceasefire monitors' meeting in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
"They threaten not one party but the right of every citizen to choose his or her leaders," he added.
Deng urged the CTSAMVM to step up monitoring and patrols in potential flashpoints, such as Jonglei State, that remain vulnerable to pre-election violence.
He also stressed the importance of accelerating verification and reporting on violations to establish facts before rumors and disinformation spread.
Deng highlighted the need for close coordination between the CTSAMVM, the National Elections Commission, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and local security agencies to establish a unified security framework for the general elections set for Dec. 22.
Two peacekeepers serving with the UN mission were killed, and seven other people wounded, three of them peacekeepers, when their patrol was ambushed near Pajut in Jonglei State in late August.
Earlier this month, 71 people were reported killed in communal violence in Lakes State.
Hailu Endashaw Atomsa, chairperson of the CTSAMVM, said that the security situation across South Sudan remains mixed. While some regions are experiencing relative calm, others continue to face localized armed clashes, road ambushes, and intercommunal violence.
Atomsa said that clashes between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition and the South Sudan People's Defence Forces in Mugwo Payam in Central Equatoria State have displaced civilians.
He said the ongoing fighting in Panyume has restricted civilian movement and humanitarian access, aggravating severe food shortages in the area.
Atomsa added that ambushes along the Mundri-Juba Highway, a vital route linking to Western Equatoria State, have heightened overall insecurity and severely restricted movement of civilians and commercial vehicles.
Atomsa called on the warring parties to reaffirm their commitment to the permanent ceasefire and maintain full compliance with Chapter II of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
He emphasized the urgent need for all groups to strictly adhere to transitional security arrangements and refrain from offensive, provocative, or retaliatory actions. ■