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V. Attacks on Civilians in Malakal, Upper Nile State According to the UN, Upper Nile state has seen the heaviest fighting during the conflict. The capital, Malakal, changed hands six times between December and April. On December 24, pro and anti-government forces clashed at SPLA barracks, the airport, and key locations in town. Nuer forces, commanded by Gen. Gathouth Galwak, who defected from the SPLA, held the town for two days before the government recaptured it on December 27 and held it for several weeks. The town changed hands again with an opposition attack on January 14, 2014. The government recaptured it on January 20, followed by another opposition attack on February 18. The government recaptured the town on March 19 and still holds it. Government forces included the former rebel Shilluk group led by Johnson Olony, who accepted an amnesty and rejoined the SPLA in June 2013. 172 Following the initial defections and fighting, opposition attacks in January and February included thousands of fighters from the so-called white army. Forces on both sides conducted house-to-house searches, arbitrary arrests, and killed many civilians, often based on their ethnicity. A brutal opposition attack in February included killings inside the Malakal hospital and attacks on churches. In addition to the targeted killings, civilians were killed in the crossfire during clashes near the UN compound on December 24, January 20, and February 18, and as a result of fighting inside the compound. In mid-January some 200 people fleeing an opposition attack drowned when their boat capsized on the river. 173 172 Human Rights Watch found that during conflict between Olony’s group and the SPLA in March 2011 at least 60 Shilluk people were killed, including in targeted attacks on civilians. Human Rights Watch, “Abuses by Both Sides in Upper Nile Crisis” http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/04/19/southern-sudan-abuses-both-sides-upper-nile-clashes. Also see Human Security Baseline Assessment, “SSDM/A-Upper Nile Faction” http://www.smallarmssurveysudan.org/facts-figures/south-sudan/armed-groups/southern-dissident-militias/ssdmaupper-nile.html (accessed June 1, 2014). 173 Sudan Tribune, January 15, 2014, “South Sudan Mourns Drowning of More than 200 in Malakal” http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49565 (accessed May 16, 2014). 69 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | AUGUST 2014
The UN has not made an estimate of the number of people killed in Malakal, but reported that between December 30, 2013, and January 3, 2014, alone 218 bodies were buried in one cemetery. 174 Human Rights Watch spoke to local aid workers who said they had collected around 500 bodies in early January. 175 The town has been extensively burned and looted, with most of the damage to the market during the initial fighting. On a visit to Malakal in mid-February, Human Rights Watch researchers found the town empty of civilians and many homes burned out or still smoldering. Most civilians fled to villages, churches, the hospital, or the UN base north of the town. Around 20,000 people are still sheltering in the UN base in Malakal. Attack on Civilians by Opposition Forces, January 2014 On January 14, 2014, opposition forces attacked a second time. During their attack on January 14, the opposition white army fighters, wearing colored headbands to indicate their counties of origin (reportedly Akobo, Nasser, and Fangak areas), went house to house demanding money, phones, food, or other goods, according to witnesses. They looted indiscriminately, including from ethnic Nuer residents, but appear to have carried out more violence against non-Nuer residents. Many witnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch in Malakal in mid-February said they had left the town before the January 14 attack, taking refuge at the UNMISS compound or other locations. Those who returned to the town after the attack reported seeing dead bodies on the streets or in homes. Many victims apparently had been shot during robberies. In one example, two armed white army fighters shot a man from Maban county in the face and stomach, killing him instantly, when he refused to hand over money and mobile phones. His 22-year-old wife, who witnessed the shooting, recalled: When the rebels came from Nasir, we were at home. Some came together and demanded a mobile. My husband, Jumaa, said ‘No, we don’t have one.’ The rebels left but then two of them came back and again asked for a 174 UNMISS, “Conflict in South Sudan, A Human Rights Report”, p35. 175 Human Rights Watch interview with South Sudan Red Cross volunteer, (name withheld) Malakal, February 15, 2014. SOUTH SUDAN’S NEW WAR 70
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IV. Attacks on Civilians in Bentiu,
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Summary ‘The leaders of the SPLA
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Tens of thousands of Nuer remain sh
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In line with international law, IGA
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monitors, independent journalists a
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attack on the UN base in Akobo and
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the ICC’s jurisdiction by the gov
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• Counselling to address the emot
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interviews were conducted by teleph
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country, dictatorial tendencies and
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