The United Nations disclosed on Friday that approximately 600 civilians lost their lives in clashes that erupted in South Sudan between August and December of the preceding year.
The UN report accused militias of perpetrating sexual slavery and carrying out indiscriminate attacks during this period.
In Upper Nile state, situated in the far north, tens of thousands of individuals were compelled to flee their residences, seeking refuge in river swamps to escape the widespread violence between armed groups.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office jointly documented various atrocities, including indiscriminate attacks, abductions, sexual violence such as rape and sexual slavery, and the recruitment of children in hostilities by conflicting parties.
Their findings revealed at least 884 civilian casualties, with 594 individuals killed and 290 injured. Additionally, 258 people were abducted, while 75 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence.
Approximately 62,000 civilians were displaced due to these clashes, with the report identifying 22 individuals deemed potentially most accountable for the violations and abuses.
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged the government to promptly bring those responsible to justice, labeling the documented abuses as “egregious.”
He emphasized that impunity would perpetuate the country’s fragile human rights situation.
Since attaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has faced successive crises, including a brutal civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives. Despite a peace deal in 2018, sporadic conflicts persist between government and opposition forces, while clashes among rival ethnic groups in lawless areas continue to inflict significant harm on civilians.
UN envoy Nicholas Haysom commended the deployment of unified forces, comprised of former rebels and government troops, to the region. He interpreted this action as a positive step by authorities to prevent further clashes and safeguard civilians.
