Today on the 26th April, the government and its tribal militias captured the town of Kodok displacing over 30,000 women, children and elderly to the surrounding bushes without food or shelter. The National Democratic Movement (NDM) would like to alert the region and the international community, including the humanitarian agencies to the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe facing vulnerable civilians in the Shilluk Kingdom, as a result of the government’s military offensive.

 

There are serious and genuine fears that the government may target innocent Shilluk civilians who are now hiding in the bushes around Kodok. Bearing in mind that in recent weeks the dictatorial and genocidal government of Kiir and his Jieng Council of Elders have embarked on military confrontation with the opposition forces across the country and adopted scotched-earth policies against other nationalities in South Sudan.

 

The National Democratic Movement (NDM) calls upon the United Nations, IGAD and Troika to immediately:

 

1. Impress upon the government in Juba to cease its military offensive in Shilluk Kingdom in accordance with the outcome of UN Security Council Briefing on South Sudan held on 25th April, 2017.

 

2. Send military patrols to locate and protect the innocent civilians in the bushes around Kodok.

 

3. Stop the government from hindering delivery of humanitarian assistance, food and medicine that are indispensable to their survival at this critical times.

 

4. Establishment of UN protection camps around the areas of Kodok to ensure the safety of the civilians in Shilluk Kingdom.

 

The National Democratic Movement (NDM) retreats its call to the friends of South Sudan and humanitarian organizations to take this matter seriously. We will hold the government of Kiir responsible for any crimes committed against innocent civilians in the Shilluk Kingdom.

 

 

Long live the struggle of our people

 

Long live South Sudan

 

Aluta continua