UN demands accountability for human rights abuses in S. Sudan
February 21, 2015 (JUBA) – UN secretary-general Ban Ki moon has vowed to ensure the perpetrators of widespread human rights abuses during the South Sudanese conflict are held accountable.
“Despite their repeated pledges to end the fighting, the two parties continued sporadic military engagements in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states,” he said in the report issued on Thursday.
Although the warring sides have signed many peace agreement, none has held.
Since April last year, the two warring parties have violated the cessations of hostilities agreement 26 times, Ban observed in his report.
“Ten of the violations were attributed to SPLA and 12 to SPLM/A in Opposition, while four were attributed to both parties,” he added.
The UN chief said his office will explore “options for the establishment of criminal accountability and transitional justice processes to address the gravity and scope of the serious human rights atrocities committed in the country since the beginning of the crisis”.
He urged the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to “urgently” consider releasing its report on crimes committed during the South Sudan conflict. The AU said it postponed the release of the report for fear it will affect efforts to achieve a peaceful end to the war.
Several activists and human right entities criticised the AU’s delay to unveil the report of a body commissioned to probe crimes committed during the South Sudan conflict.
In his 18-page report, Ban also urged South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar to make the compromises necessary to end the fighting peacefully, saying they “can no longer hold the fate of the country hostage to their personal ambitions”.
He appealed to the international community to work towards ensuring peace returns to South Sudan saying, “There are consequences for those who continue to undermine the peace effort”.
(ST)