The two warring factions of the SPLA shelled each other, killed civilians, burned hospital and humanitarian infrastructure, and conscripted child soldiers in Unity and Upper Nile states last month, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said in its latest report on ceasefire violations.
On 31 January and 1 February 2015, the two factions clashed in Bentiu, Unity State. IGAD said it found the SPLA-In Opposition fired rockets into Bentiu on the second day of the fighting, killing two civilians, but could not confirm other details of the fighting.
IGAD said the two parties fought again in Bentiu on 10 February including by shelling each other, but IGAD was unable to determine who started that skirmish either.
In Nasser, Upper Nile state, the parties exchanged mortar fire across the Sobat River on 8 February. Again, IGAD said it couldn’t determine who caused the incident. On 12 February, the Opposition fired two rockets at an SPLA-Juba supply flight as it landed at an airstrip, IGAD said. The SPLA-Juba then set fire to some hospital buildings and a WFP food store.
IGAD said on 15 February in Malakal County, Upper Nile, SPLA-Juba forces conscripted child soldiers as young as 11 years of age from Wau Shilluk payam. Previous reports on this incident said the children were 13 and above. The monitoring team recommended that IGAD special envoys demand that the government immediately release the conscripted children.
Lastly, the opposition shelled government-held areas of Duk Duk and Renk town on 20 and 26 February, respectively, IGAD reported.
IGAD makes monthly or bi-monthly reports on violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed by SPLA commanders in chief Salva Kiir and Riek Machar in January 2014.
The reports do not name which field commanders are responsible for ceasefire violations. The full report is available for download below.