»Regierung und Opposition haben Kriegsverbrechen begangen«

The conflict in South Sudan has devastated the lives of millions of people. Since the outbreak of violence on 15 December 2013, forces fighting on behalf of the government and those allied with the opposition under the leadership of former Vice President Riek Machar have shown a total disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law. They have deliberately killed civilians; executed captured fighters; abducted and sexually assaulted women and girls; arbitrarily detained civilians, some of whose whereabouts are still unknown; burned down homes; damaged and destroyed medical facilities; and looted public and private property as well as food stores and humanitarian aid.

One of the most concerning aspects of the conflict is the way in which it has pitted ethnic communities—particularly Dinka and Nuer—against each other, rekindling historical rivalries. Many civilians, including women, children and the elderly, have fallen victim to violence purely because of their ethnicity. The ethnic dimension has led to civilians joining in hostilities and attacks of retribution. The longer the cycle of attacks and reprisals continues, the deeper rifts between communities will grow, and the harder it will be for them to heal.

Well over one million people have been forced to flee their homes, a number that continues to rise. Approximately 950,000 people are displaced within South Sudan, and a further 290,000 have fled to neighbouring countries. About 80,000 displaced people are living in “protection sites” in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) bases, where there are serious health and security concerns. Many other internally displaced persons are sheltering in remote areas with little or no access to clean water, food or humanitarian assistance.

Obstructions to the movement and activities of humanitarian agencies and violence against humanitarian personnel and assets by the parties to the conflict have led to extreme difficulties in providing aid and assistance to displaced communities. The already dire humanitarian situation risks becoming a crisis. The rains have begun and will soon render many roads impassable, cutting off civilian populations from life-saving help. The United Nations (UN) has designated South Sudan as a humanitarian emergency and has warned that if the situation does not change within the next few months, the likely result is a large-scale famine.

Unfortunately, the 23 January cessation of hostilities agreement brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and signed by both parties has proved meaningless. Both parties have continued attacks. By early February government forces were engaging in an offensive in southern Unity state. On 18 February opposition forces took Malakal and on 18 March it was retaken by the government. The latest blow to the supposed ceasefire was the successful opposition attack on Bentiu on 16 April along with Riek Machar’s declared intention to take control of the oil fields in Upper Nile state. The IGAD negotiations have stalled as the parties have so far been unable to move beyond sticking points such as Uganda’s continued support to government troops, leaving little hope for a political settlement or an end to hostilities anytime soon.

Both government and opposition forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as grave human rights abuses. Such crimes require the urgent attention of the international community, yet they continue to take place largely unchecked. Meanwhile the humanitarian situation is getting worse. The crisis in South Sudan requires decisive action by parties to the conflict and by international actors. Parties to the conflict must immediately cease violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and grant immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian agencies. The international community must ensure that the humanitarian intervention is fully funded; that the cessation of hostilities agreement is adequately monitored; and that the African Union Commission of Inquiry carries out investigations with urgency. All possible measures should be taken to boost the ability of UNMISS to protect civilians, including the immediate deployment of additional peacekeeping troops authorized by the UN Security Council on 24 December.

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