southsudan0814_ForUpload

Recommendations

Info

continues in all three states. In many instances the threat of attack by one side has been enough to send forces holding a town fleeing. Both sides have left civilians behind to face the brunt of attacks from forces bent on pillage and revenge on ethnic communities in reprisal for earlier violence. South Sudan is now in a humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 1.5 million people displaced and widespread severe food shortages that threaten a famine on the country. 23 The regional organization, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) quickly took on the role of peacemaker, establishing envoys to mediate peace talks in Addis Ababa. IGAD, which mediated the peace deal that ended Sudan’s north-south civil war, was a contentious facilitator as IGAD member, Uganda, had sent in thousands of troops and some helicopter gunships to shore up the government’s defense of Juba and Bor towns, putting the impartiality of the body into question. The potential for greater regional involvement in this conflict remains. Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda have all received tens of thousands of refugees from the new war in South Sudan. Other countries notably the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, the European Union and China have also been actively engaged through sending delegates or funding the peace negotiation process. The parties to the conflict signed a cessation of hostilities agreement on January 23, 2014, but very quickly both parties violated its terms. 24 IGAD has deployed teams to monitor compliance with the agreement that also prohibits the two forces from attacking civilians or civilian property. By May the monitoring team was mostly made up of ex-military and included only one legal expert to provide analysis on war crimes and other serious violations, and no civilian staff. 23 The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) research body warned in May that three million people were in need of humanitarian assistance because of food insecurity and that famine in some parts of Unity and Jonglei states was possible as early as May-August 2014. FEWSNET Alert, “Without urgent action populations in localized areas could face famine in South Sudan”, May 9, 2014. http://www.fews.net/east-africa/sud%C3%A1n-del-sur/alert/fri-2014-05-09 9 (accessed July 20, 2014). 24 On May 9, 2014, Kiir and Rieks re-committed to cease hostilities but this agreement has also been broken. 21 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | AUGUST 2014
II. Killings in the Capital: the Juba Crisis Timeline: The Start of the Juba Crisis December 14, 2013 December 15, 2013 December 16, 2013 Tensions are high in Juba, focused on the strained relationship between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar as the SPLM National Liberation Council meets. Riek and other key politicians boycott the second day of the NLC meeting. At around 10:30 pm that night fighting between Nuer members of the Presidential Guard, loyal to Riek and government, mostly Dinka, Presidential Guard soldiers starts in the SPLA ‘Giyada’ HQ and spreads to some surrounding areas. At around midnight Nuer and government soldiers fight over the New Site arms store in the north of the capital. Riek escapes Juba. At dawn fighting in both places, the Giyada HQ and in New Site, continues and spreads to engulf many residential neighborhoods. Attacks on Nuer houses especially in the north west of the capital begin early that morning. By around midday the renegade Nuer soldiers have been pushed out of Juba. Nuer civilians are shot at as they run to UN bases. Over the day Nuer men are rounded up in Gudele and nearby neighborhoods and taken to the Gudele “joint unit” police station. That afternoon President Kiir says his forces are in control of Juba and blamed the violence on an attempted a coup by Riek. Meanwhile attacks on Nuer civilians are taking place in many different locations in Juba. Between 200 and 400 men are massacred at the Gudele police station at around 8p.m. December 17, 2013 Attacks continue on Nuer civilians, and as thousands flock to two UN bases. A gun battle over Riek’s house takes place. In the late afternoon survivors of the Gudele massacre are rescued and authorities begin moving the bodies from the site. Fighting between Dinka and Nuer security forces is also reported in other parts of town. The government announces arrests of politicians accused of masterminding the coup. SOUTH SUDAN’S NEW WAR 22
Page 1 and 2: H U M A N R I G H T S W A T C H SOU
Page 3 and 4: Copyright © 2014 Human Rights Watc
Page 5 and 6: IV. Attacks on Civilians in Bentiu,
Page 8 and 9: Summary ‘The leaders of the SPLA
Page 10 and 11: Tens of thousands of Nuer remain sh
Page 12 and 13: In line with international law, IGA
Page 14 and 15: monitors, independent journalists a
Page 16 and 17: attack on the UN base in Akobo and
Page 18 and 19: the ICC’s jurisdiction by the gov
Page 20 and 21: • Counselling to address the emot
Page 22 and 23: interviews were conducted by teleph
Page 24 and 25: country, dictatorial tendencies and
Page 26 and 27: Riek escaped from Juba on the night
Page 30 and 31: The new war in South Sudan began wi
Page 32 and 33: house was attacked as Riek had alre
Page 34 and 35: eatings and arrests of Nuer, mostly
Page 36 and 37: Attacks on Nuer Civilians Including
Page 38 and 39: Three witnesses separately reported
Page 40 and 41: immediately opened fire, injuring h
Page 42 and 43: Nuer were attacked at or immediatel
Page 44 and 45: army uniforms -that they were Nuer
Page 46 and 47: One young Nuer man described how so
Page 48 and 49: A member of parliament, Jal Thich w
Page 50 and 51: site was a concrete cellar, with st
Page 52 and 53: move because, he said, he was repea
Page 54 and 55: In late January government official
Page 56 and 57: At least four prisoners were shot i
Page 58 and 59: neighborhoods sometimes apparently
Page 60 and 61: decomposing bodies. In another hut
Page 62 and 63: and military uniforms, attacked the
Page 64 and 65: IV. Attacks on Civilians in Bentiu,
Page 66 and 67: office of the Sudd Petroleum Operat
Page 68 and 69: aftermath of the attack, around 30
Page 70 and 71: Attacks on Civilians by Government
Page 72 and 73: Human Rights Watch heard several re
Page 74 and 75: saw many bodies at the roundabout a
Page 76 and 77: V. Attacks on Civilians in Malakal,
Page 78 and 79:
mobile and money. They pointed thei
Page 80 and 81:
Images of a neighborhood in the sou
Page 82 and 83:
Images of a neighborhood close to t
Page 84 and 85:
On May 27, the UN Security Council
Page 86 and 87:
Human Rights Reporting Public human
Page 88 and 89:
VII. Justice and Accountability Leg
Page 90 and 91:
no opposition forces or other milit
Page 92 and 93:
during the crackdown. Several milit
Page 94 and 95:
government and military leaders to
Page 96 and 97:
journalists and freedom of expressi
Page 98 and 99:
government submitted a declaration
Page 100:
Since mid-December 2013, South Suda
show all

southsudan0814_ForUpload

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?