South Sudan’s army termed a United Nations’ report released on Tuesday accusing the army and allied forces of committing crimes that may amount to war crimes in Unity State as “biased”.
In a report, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said it had documented killing of hundreds of civilians including children and the elderly in deliberate attacks constituting gross violations and abuses of international human rights law by the SPLA and allied forces in Leer and Mayendit in April and May.
But, SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that after carefully studying the report, they found that it was biased and denied the involvement of SPLA troops in atrocities committed in Unity State.
Koang faulted the UN for not contacting the government for its accounts of events in Unity. He also added that the report comes at a wrong time as South Sudanese interests and hopes are on the peace talks in the region.
The investigation also identified three individuals who may bear the greatest responsibility for the violations committed. One of them was reportedly removed from his functions for his alleged implication in these violations.