South Sudan Human Rights Monitor

This report is based on the work of internationally trained local monitors on the ground in South Sudan working for a national human rights organization. Both the monitors and the organization must remain anonymous given present security concerns. The information reported herein meets the threshold for initiating an investigation. We believe that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the following incidents occurred.

INTRODUCTION

During this quarterly reporting period, our monitors documented at least ten incidents of human rights violations and crimes, including torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and summary execution of civilians. Similar to past reporting periods, a majority of the documented incidents appear to be attributable to either the SPLA-IG or the SPLA-IO. Both groups appear to be targeting civilians who are perceived sympathizers of their opposition. Similarly, rivalries within various military and militia groups have resulted in violations against real and/or perceived rivals. The violence in South Sudan has prompted serious international scrutiny of those perceived as complicit in the bloodshed. The U.S. Department of State announced in March 2018 that it would enforce sanctions on select South Sudanese agencies and at least 15 South Sudanese oil operators, requiring them to obtain special licenses to do business in the United States.

In spite of the promise of peace, South Sudan has yet to fulfill the needs of the thousands of internally displaced persons (hereinafter “IDPs”) within its borders, as well as ensuring safety for peacekeepers and humanitarian aid workers who struggle to reach IDPs and provide them with life-saving necessities such as food, water, and medicine. This civil war has now created Africa’s largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide, leaving South Sudan’s citizens nervously awaiting the outcome of the ongoing peace talks.

Read full report: SS Human Rights Monitor Newsletter