The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has released a report on the findings of an investigation into the killings of over 300 civilians in Bentiu in April. The following is an excerpt from the report, which is available in full for download below.
In the days preceding the attack on Bentiu and Rubkona on 15 April 2014, rumours circulated of an imminent attack by the SPLA/IO. Reportedly, the SPLA/IO called on civilians to vacate Bentiu and Rubkona ahead of their attack. SPLA and senior State officials, however, sought to dissuade civilians from seeking protection at UNMISS. Radio announcements urged civilians not to panic.
Several weeks before the attack, a checkpoint was established about one and a half kilometres away from the UNMISS camp. Reportedly, about a week before 15 April 2014, SPLA soldiers manning the checkpoint were instructed by a senior State official not to allow any civilians to come to the UNMISS PoC site. It appears that this instruction may not have been implemented until 14 April.
On that day, Human Rights Officers received information that another checkpoint had been established at the Bentiu bridge, about six kilometres away from the UNMISS camp, and that SPLA soldiers were preventing civilians from crossing over the bridge to come to UNMISS. Due to the security situation, Human Rights Officers were unable to verify this information.
On the morning of 14 April 2014, several traders in the Kalibalek area saw civilians rushing from Torabeit, approximately 50 kilometres from Bentiu, where fighting between Government and opposition forces was reported. Out of fear, they closed their stores. At least one member of the State Government reportedly visited the Kalibalek area that day and told traders and other civilians that they were being protected. Despite this assurance, many traders tried to reach the UNMISS camp. Upon reaching the Bentiu Bridge, at least two witnesses saw a high-ranking State official instructing SPLA soldiers stationed at the Bridge to stop anyone from crossing over. As a result, many civilians were prevented from crossing and turned back to Bentiu.
On the morning of 15 April 2014, as SPLA/IO forces approached, traders reported that civilians from the Nuer community started looting the Kalibalek market. The looters were allegedly driven out by SPLA forces still in the area.
With the SPLA/IO attack on Bentiu and Rubkona on 15 April 2014, gross abuses of human rights were reported, including from areas where civilians had been living and seeking shelter. In the Kalibalek area, for instance, one individual claimed to have witnessed the summary execution of five Sudanese men by soldiers on the road leading to the mosque. Between 20 and 24 April 2014, Human Rights Officers documented the presence of 81 dead bodies, 79 in civilian clothes and two in military fatigues, in this area.
The bodies were found in 21 separate locations, spread widely throughout Kalibalek (see Figure 1). In at least four of the locations where bodies in civilian clothing were found, the bodies had their hands tied behind their back or had evident bullet holes to the head.
Killings of civilians at Bentiu Civil Hospital
“They lined up about 20 Darfurians, who were tied with their clothing […], and told them to run to save their lives. When they ran, soldiers shot at them outside of the gate.”
Following reports that the SPLA/IO were advancing, civilians began seeking refuge at the Bentiu Civil Hospital on 14 April 2014, with more arriving after fighting between Government and SPLA/IO forces began at approximately 06.30 on 15 April 2014. Those gathered at the Hospital included both Nuer and Dinka civilians, as well as foreign nationals such as Sudanese and Ethiopians.
According to witnesses, a group of armed fighters arrived at the Bentiu Hospital at around 08.30 or 09.00 on 15 April 2014. By that time, SPLA/IO forces were in control of Bentiu.
Almost immediately upon their arrival, the fighters reportedly shot and killed between two and four Darfuris outside of the Hospital’s main gate. Shortly thereafter, between 20 and 50 fighters entered the compound, while as many as 75 surrounded it. According to multiple witnesses, Nuer civilians seeking shelter at the Hospital, including women and youth, came out of hiding when the fighters arrived, greeted them, and in some cases celebrated their arrival with cheers.
The fighters began searching the Hospital building by building and room by room. Witnesses reported that the fighters were looking for specific individuals or groups, including Government officials, Dinkas, and JEM elements. One witness reported that the fighters were asking for State officials by names and titles.
Fighters forced their way into buildings and rooms, ordering everyone to come out. One witness reported that some Hospital workers identified individuals who had been “loyal” to the Government or not when Bentiu was under Government control. Another witness stated that the fighters saw a Dinka they knew and began shooting at him. This reportedly caused some Sudanese to come out of hiding and mingle with the Nuer population to avoid being shot. Some people were pulled out of hiding by fighters, or stopped while attempting to run away. Others were summarily shot when they came out of hiding.
In the staff accommodation building, the fighters found a room locked from the inside. When the occupants would not open the door, fighters shot through the door, killing at least four people inside. Several sources indicate that one woman and one hospital staff member were among the dead. Those killed belonged to the Nuer ethnic group.
During a site visit to the Hospital on 19 April 2014, Human Rights Officers observed numerous bullet holes in the door to a bedroom in the staff accommodation building. The bullet holes appeared to have been made from outside the room, at relatively close range. There was blood on the floor and walls of the room.
The fighters gathered several people outside of the Hospital, in an area near the staff accommodation building and the cemetery. The assembled group reportedly consisted of around 80 men, largely of Darfurian and Nuban ethnicities, with three to four Ethiopians.
From this group, the fighters selected several men by name. One was a Dinka State Government official (V1) and a second was a former public official (V2), related to a high-level State official, also Dinka by ethnicity. According to witness testimonies, the fighters asked one of the officials for his mobile phone, money, and other valuables. A fighter then ordered V1 to the cemetery area, outside of the rear gate of the Hospital. V2 reportedly saw this and warned V1 not to go, but the fighters forced V1 out the rear gate. V1 proceeded out to the cemetery area with the fighters. Two witnesses saw a fighter shoot V1 in the back. A third reported having seen V1’s dead body.
Simultaneously, V2 refused another fighter’s orders to go to the cemetary.V2 was then shot four times in the left arm and chest. He fell unconscious but survived the attack, and was thereafter taken by Hospital workers to the operating theatre for surgery.
Other individuals were chosen from the assembled group on the basis of their ethnicity. In particular, individuals originating from Darfur, elsewhere in the Sudan, or who appeared to have light skin, were selected. They were gathered in a large group of between 20 and 40 individuals.
Some of these men may have been spared. One witness reported that out of the Sudanese who were gathered, at least four were known to the fighters as having resided in Bentiu for a long time and were therefore allowed to leave. Another witness stated that he saw some Darfuris negotiating and offering money to fighters outside the rear gate.
The fighters accused members of this group of supporting the SPLA. They were ordered to give their money, mobile phones, and other valuables. Their hands were tied behind their backs with their own shirts. In some cases, the men were tied together in groups of two or three and were ordered by the fighters to run “for their lives.” When they ran, fighters shot at them. Some managed to escape, while others were killed. In other cases, small groups of men were led out of the rear gate towards the cemetery and summarily shot dead. There are reasonable grounds to believe that at least 15 civilians were killed in this incident.
Two commanders, with their rank evident from their uniforms, were observed by at least two witnesses to be supervising the killings. This included a “two-star” officer who, according to a witness, was seen ordering the shooting of Darfuris with their hands tied. Another witness reportedly spoke to the commanders during the incident, asking for the release of a specific victim. The commander reportedly ordered the release but the order was not heeded by the fighters.
The attack reportedly continued until approximately mid-day. According to one witness, a senior SPLA/IO commander learned of the killing and ordered that it stop. The fighters present in the Hospital were ordered to leave, and the senior SPLA/IO commander sent another group of fighters to secure the Hospital and guard the remaining civilians inside.
During a visit to the Hospital on 19 April 2014, Human Rights Officers observed approximately eight bodies in two separate groups approximately 100 meters from the front of the Hospital, although it could not be established if they were killed at that location. Approximately 19 dead bodies were also observed in a ditch outside the rear gate, including one woman and one man with his arms tied behind his back. The Darfuri community provided the names of 23 people they believed were killed at the Hospital to the Human Rights Division. Based on the information available, there are reasonable grounds to believe that at least 19 civilians were killed at the Bentiu Civil Hospital.
Killings of civilians at Kalibalek mosque
“One soldier with a machine gun started shooting … then when he saw that many people were lying down, he came inside from the south door and started shooting to make sure they die.”
After being unable to proceed to the UNMISS base on 14 April 2014, several traders returned to the Kalibalek area. After returning to the mosque, police and/or SPLA officers reportedly requisitioned the traders’ trucks, claiming that they needed to transport SPLA soldiers to Kilo 30 and Torabeit, outside of Bentiu. Those who refused were allegedly beaten. A small committee of seven traders was formed who went to the police station to discuss their protection. After requesting 100 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) per officer, the head of the police station reportedly dispatched a dozen police officers to protect the mosque.
Hundreds of people were already living in the mosque at that time. On the morning of 15 April 2014, others – in particular Ethiopian traders – joined them as the fighting intensified. One of them told Human Rights Officers that he initially wanted to leave Bentiu for a nearby village, but as opposition forces were coming from many directions, he thought the mosque would be safer.
Between 09.00 and 10.00, the SPLA/IO reached the Bentiu town centre. As a result of the intensity of the shooting, the police officers who were supposed to protect the mosque fled the area. Over the course of the day, three distinctive groups of armed elements entered the mosque compound.
According to a witness who was in the compound, a few minutes after the police left, 20 armed elements entered by the northwest and southwest gates of the mosque compound. The fighters were wearing military uniforms as well as civilian clothing. Most had facial markings similar to those of the Nuer community, with six lines cut across the forehead.
These fighters began to fire at people. As a result, most people ran towards the mosque’s building to take cover. According to four witnesses, at least three people were killed in the courtyard of the mosque – including the brother of a witness who was shot at and the sister of another source who was seriously injured.
When the shooting occurred, the civilians already inside the mosque closed and locked the three main doors. The fighters surrounded the building, shouting at the civilians and asking them who they were. The civilians replied that they were traders. As the doors of the mosque were closed, fighters broke the windows and demanded that the people inside provide money, clothes, bags, and phones. One source indicated that out of fear, people inside the mosque opened the doors and let the soldiers in. As the building was overcrowded, the fighters only managed to rob those close to the doors and the windows.
This group of fighters reportedly stayed between 30 minutes to slightly over an hour. They left without killing further civilians. As heavy shooting was still reported outside the mosque compound and as few people had been killed around this time, most civilians chose to remain inside the mosque thinking that it was safer than outside.
About half an hour later, a second group of fighters arrived. Among them were individuals in military uniforms, as well as individuals in civilian dress with machetes and firearms. This group went inside the mosque, and demanded money, mobile phones, and other valuable items. Suddenly, several fighters reportedly opened fire.
The exact sequence of events and what triggered the shooting remains unclear. It appears that one fighter in a military uniform with a machine gun, came through a door and opened fire. It is unclear how long the fighter fired for, but one victim reported that he managed to reload his machine gun during the shooting. There may also have been a second shooter, standing at the entry of another door. Several fighters were seen shooting through the windows.
In visits to the mosque on 21 and 24 April 2014, Human Rights Officers observed that the 12 windows of the mosque were broken. Over 185 bullet casings were found, both inside and outside of the mosque. The impact of bullets was concentrated on two sections of the walls of the mosque, suggesting that shooting either took place within the building, or through its windows. Bullet casings were found at the bottom of two broken windows, indicating that shooting occurred through the windows.
According to an analysis carried out by an independent international organization in May 2014, the cartridge casings were a mix of 7.62 x 39 mm (for AK-pattern assault rifle) and 7.62 x 54R mm (for general-purpose machine gun (GPMG)). The GPMG cartridge cases were particularly concentrated around one door to the mosque and within the adjacent veranda. The location of the GPMG cartridge cases suggests that machine gun fire was directed into the mosque from the main doorway.
After the shooting ceased, one source reported that fighters went back into the mosque to take valuables. Some fighters also allegedly abducted a baby whose mother had just been killed. One Ethiopian trader, lying on the ground, was recognized by several fighters. The fighters reportedly told him that he had nothing to do with the mosque and helped him outside. Fighters then called Ethiopian nationals to identify themselves. According to a witness, six people identified themselves, including two Darfuris pretending to be Ethiopians. These six people were eventually escorted by the fighters to the Bentiu Hospital.
Other fighters, including two allegedly belonging to the Misseriya ethnic community, called for the Misseriya to come outside. Many Sudanese who, according to witness testimonies, looked similar to those of Misseriya ethnicity, came out in hope they would not be recognised. They were brought to the minaret. However, a fighter who appeared to belong to the Nuer community argued with the Misseriya fighters, stating that it was not possible that all those next to the minaret were Misseriya, and that members of the Darfuri community were probably among them. After calling them names such as criminals or liars, some Nuer fighters opened fire on the group gathered at the minaret. Witness testimonies vary on the number of persons killed, with one person stating that 30 were killed, another estimating 40, and another estimating 15.
After this last shooting, most fighters left the mosque compound.
At around 15.00, two SPLA/IO military officers arrived at the mosque escorted by their bodyguards. Upon seeing the dead, one source reported that they asked the survivors who was responsible and were told that it was their forces. The officers asked their bodyguards to guard the two gates and to bring water and something to eat to the survivors. The officers expressed dissatisfaction with the killings.
The two officers settled in the middle of the compound yard under some trees and requested the survivors to move the wounded and the dead bodies outside the mosque building. One of them allegedly intervened to stop a fighter who was firing on civilians in the compound. These officers stayed for about two hours. Before leaving, they requested their bodyguards to remain behind in order to secure the mosque compound.
The two officers reportedly came back around 18.00. They informed the survivors that they would continue to provide security at the mosque and would transport the wounded people to Bentiu Hospital, provided that their bodyguards were paid. According to one source, the traders initially proposed to pay 1,500 SSP, but the SPLA /IO officers refused, arguing that it was not enough and demanded 5,000 SSP. Other sources reported that the amount demanded was between 3,000 and 8,000 SSP. The traders managed to collect the sum.
Later that evening, a Misseriya leader who was known to at least one witness, arrived at the mosque with several Misseriya armed elements. After introducing himself, he asked the members of the Misseriya community who were still alive to identify themselves. According to witnesses, about a dozen came forward, including two injured. Some Darfuri implored to also be taken away. Eventually, the Misseriya and the Darfuris left the premises with him. Before leaving, the Misseriya leader reportedly confirmed to the others that vehicles would come soon to pick them up.
At around 20.00, a dump truck and at least two 4 x 4 vehicles arrived at the mosque. These vehicles were first used to transport the survivors to the Bentiu Hospital. At least two witnesses reported that some of these survivors were beaten and robbed by other patients and SPLA/IO fighters at the Hospital. One witness reported that about 150 wounded were brought to the Hospital. Hospital personnel told the Human Rights Division that records of these patients were not kept due to the situation at the time.
Once most of the survivors had left the mosque, the officers identified about 30 able-bodied persons to load the dead bodies into the dump truck. Reportedly, these people were split into two groups. The first group of about 25 persons was tasked to move the bodies scattered across the premise to the southwest gate while the remaining five were charged with loading the bodies. Several hours were needed to complete the task. In total, according to credible witnesses, over 250 bodies were loaded into the truck.
At least 37 bodies were left behind. One witness indicated this was because the group was told they needed to finish their work. Among the 30 survivors, nine were made to leave with the fighters in order to unload the bodies at the destination. They were forced to sit on top of the bodies at the back of the truck.
The truck, escorted by two military pick-ups, reportedly left the mosque at around 02.00 on 16 April 2014. It took more than two hours to reach Khaljak, 30 kilometres from Bentiu. Approximately five minutes after passing Khaljak, the convoy turned to the left, took an adjacent track and drove on for a few kilometres before stopping. According to one source, the nine survivors were then stripped of their identification papers and instructed by a SPLA/IO officer to unload and dump the bodies into a water drainage trench.
At dawn, after unloading the bodies, the convoy drove towards Torabeit where other SPLA/IO fighters were picked up. The convoy returned to Bentiu in the course of the afternoon. Upon reaching Rubkona, the nine survivors were dropped off at the Pakur checkpoint and ordered to go to the UNMISS camp.
On 20, 23, and 25 April 2014, Human Rights Officers observed the removal of 37 bodies from the mosque, including 3 female bodies. Witness testimony indicates that those killed included several women and children.
Conclusion
There are reasonable grounds to believe that hundreds of civilians were targeted and killed by SPLA/IO forces on 14 April 2014 in Bentiu. At least 19 civilians were killed at the Bentiu Civil Hospital, and approximately 287 civilians were killed at the mosque. There is also reason to believe that civilians were killed elsewhere in Bentiu, as indicated by the presence of bodies in civilian clothing with their hands tied behind their backs in Kalibalek.
Sudanese community leaders provided the names of 333 individuals whom they believed were killed across Bentiu and Rukbona on 15 April 2014, of whom 273 were reportedly killed at the mosque. The age of the victims ranged from two to over 70 years old, including three children, aged two, nine, and 12. The majority of the deceased were seemingly from different tribes in Darfur, while a small proportion were from the Misseriya and Nuba communities. The number of fatalities provided by the community leaders is roughly consistent with numbers obtained by Human Rights Officers through interviews.
At both the Bentiu Hospital and Kalibalek mosque, there are reasonable grounds to believe that fighters affiliated with SPLA/IO forces were the perpetrators of the attacks. Both attacks took place after Bentiu was known to have been under the control of the SPLA/IO. A witness reported that celebrations occurred in the Hospital to welcome the fall of Bentiu to the SPLA/IO. Survivors described the majority of perpetrators at the mosque as having rifles and other military-type weapons and wearing military uniforms. The involvement of higher-ranking officers around noon at the Hospital, and around mid-afternoon at the mosque, is consistent with information that senior SPLA/IO officers entered Bentiu only after fighting ceased, in the afternoon. In both attacks, victims were reportedly targeted based on perceived support to the Government or Government forces, particularly those of Dinka and Darfuri origin.
In meetings with the Human Rights Division on 21 and 25 April 2014, senior SPLA/IO officials denied the involvement of SPLA/IO forces in the killings. One implied that those killed in the mosque were JEM combatants, not civilians, and that they might have been killed by armed Nuer civilians in retaliation for abuses committed by JEM forces. A high-level SPLA/IO official made the same claim to the media on 21 April 2014. On 22 April 2014, international media reported that an SPLA/IO spokesperson stated that retreating Government forces had perpetrated the killings.
No evidence has been offered in support of these claims. In subsequent interviews with the international media, including on the BBC programme Hard Talk, SPLM/ IO leader Riek Machar acknowledged the killings in Bentiu and indicated that he would investigate the allegations.
Thousands of civilians were displaced from their homes in the wake of the attack. The number of civilians in the UNMISS Bentiu PoC site increased from approximately 12,000 on 15 April to 22,500 by 22 April 2014.