South Sudan clashes kill at least 75 since February: UN

Since February, at least 75 civilians have been murdered in clashes between the South Sudanese army and fighters supporting President Salva Kiir’s challenger, the UN human rights head said on Friday.

According to United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, hundreds of people have been displaced and dozens more have been injured in the newest state in the world.

After separating from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan was engulfed in a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that claimed almost 400,000 lives and displaced four million more.

There had been a tenuous quiet due to a power-sharing arrangement between the warring parties in 2018.

However, followers of President Kiir’s opponent, Vice President Riek Machar, who was detained in March, have been engaged in violent fighting with his faction for several months.

“At least 75 civilians have been killed and 78 others injured in the fighting between Kiir’s SSPDF, Machar’s SPLA-IO, and their respective militias, and thousands have been displaced from their homes,” according to a statement from Turk.

According to the statement, the South Sudanese army has reportedly launched “indiscriminate aerial bombardments, river, and ground offensives” on SPLA-IO positions in the Upper Nile and Jonglei States.

“Civilian-populated areas have also been struck, including a medical facility operated by (mdical charity) Doctors Without Borders (MSF).”

More residents were forced to leave their homes when the SPLA-IO and affiliated armed factions started a counteroffensive on Wednesday in an attempt to retake territories it had lost in Fangak county, Jonglei State.

A UN assessment from mid-April estimated that since tensions escalated, about 125,000 people had been displaced.

Turk said that numerous opposition politicians connected to the SPLM-IO, including Machar, ministers, MPs, and army officials, had been taken into custody together with civilians.

He voiced alarm over the increase in hate speech since February and arbitrary detentions.

“All parties must urgently pull back from the brink,” Turk said. “I urge all parties to uphold the 2018 peace agreement.”

The escalation of violence risks further worsening the already terrible humanitarian situation and widespread violations of human rights, he said.