The regional monitoring group IGAD has not named the South Sudan government army officials responsible for widespread attacks on civilians in southern Unity state.
In its latest report on ceasefire violations, IGAD concluded that government forces of the SPLA carried out “gross violations” against civilians between 27 April and 31 May in Unity, but did not name any commanders who participated in the campaign.
The violations included indiscriminate killings of civilians, entire villages razed to the ground, houses burned with occupants inside, women raped, children abducted, cattle stolen, and destruction of schools and hospitals, IGAD said.
The atrocities took place in Rubkona, Mayom, Guit, Koch, Leer, Mayendit, and Panyijar counties.
A local government official confirmed to IGAD that an SPLA directive was issued to government forces to burn all buildings to the ground during the campaign. IGAD did not name that official or the government commander who issued the order.
However, in the same report, which is linked for download below, IGAD chose to name the SPLA-In Opposition commander whose forces committed separate ceasefire violations in Upper Nile state.
IGAD said forces under command of Major General Johnson Olony attacked and captured Upper Nile state capital Malakal on 15 May, then proceeded to launch attacks northward toward the Paloich oil fields.
Olony’s forces also attacked Dolieb Hill on 27 June and later killed a civilian in a UN base in Malakal, IGAD said.
The report did not explain why IGAD named the rebel commander responsible for violating the ceasefire while not revealing the government commanders who did so as well.
Photo: IGAD special envoys Seyoum Mesfin (right) and Lazaro Sumbeiywo (center)