NAIROBI: Clashes in South Sudan between August and December last year resulted in the death of nearly 600 civilians, reported by the United Nations on Friday.
The UN attributed the violence to militias and accused them of engaging in sexual slavery and indiscriminate attacks.
The conflict forced tens of thousands of people in Upper Nile state to flee their homes, seeking refuge in swamps along a river to escape the violence between armed groups.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office revealed that investigators documented “indiscriminate attacks, abductions, sexual violence, including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, and the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, committed by the parties to the conflict.” A joint report summarized the findings, noting at least 884 civilian casualties, including 594 deaths and 290 injuries. Additionally, 258 individuals were abducted, and 75 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence.
The clashes displaced over 62,000 civilians, with the report identifying “at least 22 individuals who may bear the greatest responsibility for these violations and abuses.” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called on the government to take immediate steps to ensure accountability for those responsible, describing the documented abuses as “egregious” and warning that impunity would perpetuate the human rights situation in the country.
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has faced numerous crises, including a brutal five-year civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives.
Despite a peace deal signed in 2018, sporadic violence between government and opposition forces persists, and conflict between rival ethnic groups in lawless areas continues to impact civilians.
UN envoy Nicholas Haysom welcomed the deployment of unified forces to the region, signaling efforts by authorities to prevent further clashes and protect civilians.
