UK urges gov’t to protect human rights

The government of the United Kingdom has called upon South Sudan to make concerted efforts to end human rights violations and allow the law to take its course.

“We recognise the progress made by South Sudan since 2015, including through the 2018 Peace Agreement,” read the statement.

“However, violations and abuses, including sexual violence, arbitrary detentions, killings, and attacks on freedom of expression, continue with impunity. Urgent and immediate action is also needed to improve the security and humanitarian situation and the rule of law,” the statement added.

The UK recommended that the government of South Sudan should protect civilians, journalists, civil society and humanitarian workers by upholding freedom of expression and assembly.

They called for South Sudan to cooperate with the international community and the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to devise how best to prioritise human rights.

“We recommend South Sudan fully implement its Action Plan to prevent grave violations against children, including by ending the recruitment of child soldiers and helping the social reintegration of those recruited and by increasing awareness of modern slavery among the authorities,” the statement concluded.

Human rights violations

South Sudan has been accused of extra-judicial killings of innocent civilians, killings of aid workers, as well as killings and harassment of journalists without justice.

Last year, a radio Miraya journalist, Manyang Mayom, was also banished by authorities in Warrap State. The state authorities claimed that his reporting was a potential threat to peace and stability in the state.

In separate incidents, Singaita 88.3 FM in Kapoeta and Radio Jonglei 95.9 were shut down, although they were later reopened.

On October 31, 2021, the president of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJoSS), Oyet Patrick, asked the government to investigate, prosecute, and bring those who committed crimes to justice.

At least 10 journalists have been killed in South Sudan since 2014, including a reporter named Peter Moi in August 2015 in Juba.

In October 2021, UJoSS met with the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, ahead of the international day to end impunity against journalists, where he appealed for journalists to be protected, and Machar promised to cooperate.

Five aid workers have also been killed so far, as well as countless attacks on civilians and highway ambushes, including the Juba-Nimule highway incident which led to the deaths of two Catholic nuns, along with three others, on their way back from the centennial of Loa celebrations.

The law has not yet taken its course pertaining to these crimes against humanity.