Speaking during a recent interview, UNMISS Malakal Upper Nile Sector Commander Brig Gen Nakul Rayamajhi emphasized how the collaborative efforts of various contingents, including Rwanabat-2, INBAT-1, and BAN-FMU, helped maintain peace and prevent the loss of lives.
'It's a success story wherein the collaborative efforts of the entire force, entire sectorâ€"north, the Rwanabat-2, the previous contingent, INBAT-1, the previous contingent, and BAN-FMUâ€"were able to control the situation and prevent loss of lives,' he said.
The Commander highlighted several key achievements, including a crucial operation in May, which saw RDF troops play a proactive role in controlling unrest. He attributed their success to the training and readiness of their forces, noting that their approach helped minimize casualties.
'We had just about eight losses, including those four there, the fifth one here outside the POC, and I think three in the town. About eight to ten losses, including injured,' he recounted, labeling it the "second success story."
Additionally, the RDF has been instrumental in engaging local communities in areas like Nasir County, where a youth mobilization effort to raid cattle due to unemployment was peacefully halted. The Commander detailed how Rwanabat-2, along with local authorities, engaged with the community and the county commissioner to defuse the situation, preventing further violence. 'That mobilization was halted, thereby saving lives,' he said.
UNMISS has also introduced integrated medical campaigns to address healthcare needs in remote areas. The Commander explained that RDF medical personnel collaborate with other contingents to attend to emergencies during patrols, offering vital treatment and medicines to affected populations.
He pointed to a recent operation in New Fangak, where RDF medics, alongside other personnel, treated over 270 women and children displaced by floods, providing much-needed malaria medicine.
'Quite a stock of medicines, including malaria tablets for approximately 250 persons, was presented to the county commissioner by Rwanabat and INBAT,' the Commander noted.
The success stories underscore the important role RDF troops play in UNMISS's broader efforts to protect civilians and promote stability in South Sudan.
The Commander also emphasized that small, consistent steps taken by RDF forces, such as teaching unarmed combat to girls in conflict zones, have the potential to save lives and empower vulnerable communities.
The current conflict in South Sudan, though somewhat reduced in intensity, stems from deep-seated political, ethnic, and resource-related issues that have plagued the country since its independence in 2011.
South Sudan's journey to statehood began with decades of civil war between Sudan and the southern regions, culminating in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which led to a 2011 referendum for independence. However, internal conflicts soon emerged, primarily driven by political power struggles and ethnic tensions.
Wycliffe Nyamasenge
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/unmiss-commander-praises-rdf-contributions-in-south-sudan
