Citing arbitrary arrests and detentions of hundreds of people, including women and children, the UN on Wednesday condemned “concerning” violations of human rights in war-torn South Sudan.
Power disputes, ethnic infighting, and a severe economic downturn beset the world’s youngest nation, which is still recovering from a bloody civil war.
In a joint report, the UN rights office and UNMISS stated that between January 2023 and May of this year, at least 1,140 civilians—including 87 children—had been unlawfully imprisoned.
Women and girls who had refused arranged marriages, requested divorces, or had been charged with adultery were among those targeted by the arrests.
Members of opposition parties and others thought to be connected to them were also imprisoned.
“It is concerning that individuals have been arrested and detained – in many cases for alleged conduct that does not amount to criminal offences,” UN rights chief Volker Turk said.
While both state security officials and armed groups were involved in the rights violations, most of the arrests were carried out by the government, the UN said.
“I call on the South Sudanese authorities to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty, and to bring those responsible for such violations and abuses to justice,” Turk said.
Since separating from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has had difficulty establishing itself, dealing with a combination of natural disasters, poverty, and violence.
Following the president’s office’s announcement in September of yet another extension to a transitional period agreed upon in a 2018 peace deal, postponing elections by two years until December 2026, the nation also faces another period of political stalemate.
The drafting of a constitution and the unity of President Salva Kiir’s and his adversary Reik Machar’s opposing forces are two important aspects of the transitional accord that have not yet been completed.
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