United Nations (UN) human rights experts on Monday accused senior South Sudanese government officials and military officers of committing serious abuses, including widespread attacks against civilians, killings, and rape, reported The Africa News.
A new report by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has identified top government and military leaders who have been accused of serious human rights violations and called for them to be held accountable for their crimes.
The list includes the name of South Sudan’s Unity State governor, Joseph Monytuil, who has been held responsible for gross violations of human rights.
The report calls for Lt. Gen. Thoi Chany Reat of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces to be warranted for criminal investigation over state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings carried out in Mayom County in August 2022.
The panel, which conducted a year-long investigation across six states in South Sudan, released a partial summary of its findings in March. The panel said none of those named in the final report had faced any accountability for their crimes.
“Over several years, our findings have consistently shown that impunity for serious crimes is a central driver of violence and misery faced by civilians in South Sudan,” Yasmin Sooka, commission chair, said.
Sooka said the UN authorities have taken the step of naming more of the individuals who warrant criminal investigation and prosecution for their role in gross human rights violations.
The panel said that while the Government of South Sudan has announced special investigation committees into several situations, not one has led to any form of accountability.
The authorities in Juba have accused the UN commission of interfering in its national affairs and have rejected the previous findings of the three-member panel.
South Sudan soon after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011 descended into a civil war between arch-enemies Riek Machar and Salva Kiir that left nearly 400,000 dead and millions displaced between 2013 and 2018 when a peace agreement was signed.
