UN base camp violence in South Sudan kills five people

JUBA, South Sudan

At least five people were killed and dozens more were injured in clashes between two refugee groups at a UN base camp in northeast region of South Sudan’s Malakal city Wednesday night, eyewitnesses and the UN mission said Thursday.

While some eyewitnesses put the death toll as high as seven and the injury toll at 38, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan said in a statement Thursday that five people were killed and 30 others were injured when violence broke out between Shilluk and Dinka youths at its “protection of civilians” site in Malakal city.

The violence involved the use of small arms, machetes and other weapons.

According to eyewitnesses, a fight broke out between a group of residents at the base camp and suspected army troops because of rising food prices inside the camp.

"A group of individuals within the government army infiltrated the camp last night," Viter Dhikon, vice president of a nongovernmental organization at the camp, claimed. "They opened fire on the residents of the camp, killing seven people and wounding 38. They also burnt some houses," Dhikon added.

The UN mission urged all parties to refrain from violence.

"UN troops have increased perimeter patrolling while physically securing areas in the vicinity of site," it said, adding that the mission was also engaging with local authorities in Malakal to de-escalate the situation.

Highlighting the fact that such an attack against civilians and UN premises may constitute a war crime, the UN mission reminded all concerned, including security forces, of the "civilian character of the compound, and the sanctity of UN assets and personnel, as well as that of the civilians protected inside the UN compound".

According to the statement, the UN mission protects 47,791 civilians in Malakal, while 198,440 civilians are currently protected at six other UN mission bases throughout South Sudan.