More than 700 civilians killed in South Sudan, says UN
August 13, 2024 (NEW YORK) – A total of 713 civilians were killed, 478 injured and 252 abducted in South Sudan between 16 February and 15 July 2024, the United Nations Secretary General said in a report presented to the Security Council on Tuesday.
The report, covering the political and security developments, the humanitarian and human rights situation and progress towards the implementation of the UN mandate, also cited 272 arbitrarily arrests and detention with 12 unlawful detentions.
It says the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) documented 408 incidents of violence, which affected 1,727 civilians, including 157 women and 184 children.
The Secretary General’s report attributed 76 per cent of the incidents to community-based militias and or civil defence groups, 28 per cent were attributed to government security forces and other armed groups and 6 per cent to unidentified armed elements.
Also documented were 41 extrajudicial executions and 25 incidents of infringement on civic and political space, affecting 49 individuals, allegedly perpetrated by government security forces and state and county authorities.
The report says that cattle-related intercommunal violence, including killings and abductions, continued to impact the security situation in the country, particularly in Jonglei and along the tri-state border area of Warrap, Lakes and Unity states.
Tensions were reported in Western Equatoria, Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei states.
The report welcomed the political dialogue under way, including between the parties in the High Level Standing Committee forum in Juba and the Tumaini initiative in Nairobi, with the non-signatory groups, saying it is key in efforts to end the transitional period.
The Tumaini Initiative, a high-level mediation effort for South Sudan, has united various parties and groups, ensuring an inclusive and home-grown process modelled on the Pan-African policy of African solutions to African challenges.
The Tumaini Initiative reportedly provides a foundation for the inclusion of the non-signatory groups with a view to sustaining peace and should complement the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement, stressing that the Initiative should help to generate consensus and compromise that can be taken into the inter-party discussion and consolidated within the framework of the 2018 peace deal.
Concerns were expressed over the conflict in Sudan and its impact on neighbouring countries like South Sudan, specifically regarding the influx of over 700,000 returnees, refugees and asylum-seekers which is exacerbating the strain on local communities already grappling with diminishing resources.
(ST)