State denies knowledge of UN report implicating top gov’t, military officers of ‘gross human rights violations’
Summary: The Commission’s findings also identify other individuals needing further investigation about human rights violations in Warrap, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Equatoria states
Office of the Governor of Unity State said they were unaware of a UN report that implicated some top state government officials of gross human rights violations.
The UN Human Rights Commission report implicated some senior government officials and military officers in serious human rights violations.
The report, titled “State of Impunity: The Persistence of Violence and Human Rights Violations in South Sudan,” added that these crimes remain unpunished.
The officials have been accused of serious crimes, including widespread attacks against civilians and extrajudicial killings in Mayom County, Unity State.
“There has been consistent impunity for serious crimes, which has proven to be the central driver of violence and misery faced by civilians in South Sudan,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission.
The data were collected in six states and in the neighboring region over the last 12 months, the report added.
“So, we have taken the step of naming more of the individuals who warrant criminal investigation and prosecution for their role in gross human rights violations,” she added.
Following the presentation of its report of main findings to the Human Rights Council on March 7, 2023, the full report published yesterday (Sunday) reflects in greater detail the Commission’s findings on illustrative situations and sites of human rights violations during 2022.
The situations include widespread attacks against civilians, including killings, rape, sexual slavery, and other forms of sexual violence, as well as mass displacement of people, in multiple states.
The commission said while the government has announced special investigation committees to look into several cases, some and military personnel implicated in these serious crimes remain in office.
“Once again, hundreds of South Sudanese shared with our commission their experiences of being subjected to a range of human rights violations. Their suffering is immense. The state continues to fail in its duty to protect civilians and to ensure accountability for violations.
“We call upon the authorities to properly investigate alleged perpetrators of serious crimes, no matter their rank or office, and to establish and strengthen the justice mechanisms for holding them accountable,” said Commissioner Andrew Clapham.
The report implicates Unity State Governor Joseph Monytuil Wejang and Lieutenant General Thoi Chany Reat of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPD) as among the individuals warranting criminal investigation about state-sanctioned extrajudicial killings carried out in Mayom in August 2022.
Koch County Commissioner Gordon Koang Biel is also among the individuals mentioned as being responsible for leading widespread attacks against civilians in Leer in February and April 2022.
The Commission’s findings also identify other individuals needing further investigation about human rights violations in Warrap, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Equatoria states.
“Breaking the grip of impunity can only be achieved if the national authorities recommit and adhere to the values and promises in the peace agreement,” said commissioner Barney Afako.
“Political leaders are accountable to the people of South Sudan, and must therefore ensure that civic space for discussion is protected if the country’s first electoral and constitution-making processes are to be credible and positively impactful,” he added.
According to the report, the Commission’s findings are informed by interviews conducted with victims and survivors of human rights violations, as well as witnesses, clinicians, service providers, and related experts and stakeholders.
When contacted for comment, the press secretary in the office of the governor of Unity State said they were unaware of the content of the report.
