NAIROBI, Kenya — Over the New Year there was a massacre in a remote part of South Sudan. It was part of a long-standing feud between the Lou-Nuer and Murle people who traditionally raid one another's cattle. But this one was bad, leaving probably hundreds and possibly thousands dead.
Read more from GlobalPost here: South Sudan: 51 killed in latest attacks in Jonglei
The United Nations managed to get 400 peacekeepers into the town of Pibor ahead of the onslaught by an army of Lou-Nuer, but it was not enough to prevent the killing.
Clearly, something went wrong.
Read more from GlobalPost here: South Sudan News: UN humanitarian operation launched
Speaking at a conference in New York, secretary-general Ban Ki-moon explained what had happened.
"Consider the recent violence in South Sudan. We saw it coming weeks before."
"Yet we were not able to stop it - unfortunately. Nor was the government, which like others has primary responsibility for protecting its citizens."
"The reason was painfully simple: we were denied the use of necessary resources ... in particular helicopters that would have given us mobility to bring all the UN Peacekeepers where there are no roads except by air mobility."
"At the critical moment, I was reduced to begging for replacements from neighboring countries and missions. With limited resources, we tried our best."
It is an incredible admission, but why were the resources limited?
Last year Russia withdrew four of the eight helicopters that it provided to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), amid fears regarding the security of the Russian crews who had come under fire. The other four were grounded, meaning the UN was unable to get enough peacekeepers to Pibor in time.
The row between Russia and the UN has escalated with Moscow threatening to withdraw its support for the South Sudan mission altogether.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/africa-emerges/south-sudan-news-russia-blame-south-sudan-massacre
Newer articles:
- U.N. says 120,000 in South Sudan need aid after fighting - 20/01/2012 14:25
- South Sudan: UN Issues New Call for End to Ethnic Violenc - 20/01/2012 12:32
- South Sudan: UN urges to end cycle of deadly ethnic violence - 20/01/2012 10:37
- New fighting in Sudan's Blue Nile border state - 20/01/2012 06:02
- Violent clashes in South Sudan kill at least 47 - 20/01/2012 01:43
Older news items
- South Sudan: Citizen X - No to Tribalism We Want Peace - 19/01/2012 13:16
- Israelis, Arabs tied to Sudan oil conflict - 18/01/2012 21:00
- Sudan sees S. Sudan oil deal despite impasse - 18/01/2012 18:02
- Sudan says oil deal with south depends on security - 18/01/2012 16:17
- South Sudan's tribal clashes force thousands to flee - 18/01/2012 11:33
Latest news items (all categories):
- The power struggles among South Sudan’s political leaders are the direct cause of its ongoing conflict - 11/07/2026 14:03
- Celebrating Independence In The Midst Of Sorrow - 11/07/2026 13:41
- South Sudan resumes oil-backed financing - 11/07/2026 13:33
- Press statement: Strive For National Unity In Honor Of South Sudan's Independence - 10/07/2026 21:23
- Fifteen years of independence for South Sudan, but still little to celebrate - 10/07/2026 21:23
See also (all categories):
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan: No Sanctions without a Strategy - 29/06/2015 12:25
- South Sudan: Logistics Cluster - Concept of Operations, September 2019 - 06/09/2019 07:30
- Inside Uganda, South Sudan pact to end cross-border insecurity - 25/02/2023 07:01
- Shooting of freelance reporter heightens fears for South Sudan's press - 16/09/2015 11:17
- Juba Says Sudan Massing Troops on Border - Voice of America - 13/02/2013 10:12
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 147762 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27842 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 24933 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24253 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22162 times
