Violence against civilians persists across South Sudan, according to the latest quarterly Human Rights Brief from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
According to the quarterly brief extended to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, from January to March 2023, the Mission documented 920 incidents of violence against civilians (including 243 children), during which 405 civilians were killed, 235 injured, 266 abducted, and 14 were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.
It further said inter-communal violence constituted the primary source of violence affecting civilians and accounted for more than 92 per cent (847) of all civilian victims.
“Much of the violence was generated and documented in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), in the conflict which erupted at the beginning of the year. This was followed by Warrap, Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, and Lakes states,” the brief said.
It added, “Compared to the same reporting period in 2022, these findings show a 12 per cent increase in violent incidents against civilians, a 113 per cent increase in abductions (from 125 to 266), but a 78 per cent decrease in conflict-related sexual violence (from 63 to 14). The number of people killed as a result of this violence has also decreased.”
Disturbingly, according to the brief, there were 22 documented cases of extra-judicial executions between January and May 2023. Of these, 14 persons (including one female) were executed in Warrap State and eight in Lakes State. These executions were allegedly committed by South Sudan security apparatus personnel.
“I condemn these incidents which occur without any due process,” says Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in South Sudan. “The Government has previously denounced this practice and, following our engagements, the Minister of Justice has agreed to investigate these allegations,” he added.
The Mission urged the government to speedily investigate the cases of extra-judicial killings and other human rights violations. It also urged the public release of the findings of the ad-hoc investigation committees established by the President so that identified perpetrators can be held accountable.
Additionally, the UN Mission pointed out that the return of more than 100,000 returnees and refugees from Sudan has the potential to generate intercommunal violence as we have seen in Renk and Malakal.
The Mission said it continues to intervene proactively in mitigating violence through peace advocacy, human rights mainstreaming, and community dialogues, in addition to conducting hundreds of monitoring patrols by land, air, and boat.