"Members of an unidentified armed group have launched a series of
violent attacks against locals in southern Sudan's Central Equatoria state
over the past month, prompting United Nations officials to organize the
distribution of basic relief supplies to the affected population in the
already impoverished region," the UN report said.
The UN Mission in Sudan has relayed testimony from witnesses who
identified the attackers as members of the Lord's Resistance Army. The rebel
group, formed in 1987 by Christian rebels, has been fighting Sudan's
military as well as neighboring Uganda.
LRA, which uses child soldiers, has been accused of widespread human
rights violations. They included mutilation, torture, rape and abduction of
civlians.
The UN has already been stretched in its mission in the western Sudanese
province of Darfour. Despite efforts, the UN has failed to acquire
helicopters for its joint mission with the African Union.
In another report, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon urged member states
to cooperate in security efforts. The report, titled "Securing Peace and
Development," stressed the UN ability to help in security sector reform.
"There are no quick fixes for establishing effective and accountable
security institutions," the report said. "Where a genuine will to build
effective and accountable security does not exist or where there is no basic
agreement between national actors on the objectives and the approach for
national security arrangements, the potential contribution of the United
Nations — and other partners — is limited at best."
