At least 75 civilians have been killed and 78 others injured in South Sudan since February as fighting escalates between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing Vice President Riek Machar, the United Nations has reported.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk revealed the figures on Friday, warning that thousands more have been displaced as violence spreads through Jonglei State and Upper Nile regions.
South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011, experienced a brutal civil war between 2013 and 2018 that left around 400,000 dead and displaced four million. Although a 2018 peace deal helped establish a fragile calm, recent tensions have reignited deadly confrontations.
Turk’s statement highlighted reports of indiscriminate aerial bombings, river and ground assaults launched by South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces targeting Machar’s SPLA-IO positions. Civilian areas, including a Doctors Without Borders medical facility, have also been hit.
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On Wednesday, SPLA-IO and allied militias launched a counteroffensive in Fangak County, Jonglei State, in an attempt to reclaim lost territory, resulting in even more civilian displacement.
As of mid-April, the UN estimated around 125,000 people had fled their homes. Turk also raised concerns over arbitrary detentions, including the arrests of opposition politicians, military officials, and civilians associated with Machar’s SPLM-IO movement.
“The rising use of hate speech and political repression is troubling,” Turk said. “All parties must urgently pull back from the brink and recommit to the 2018 peace agreement.”
The UN warns that the worsening conflict could deepen the country’s already dire humanitarian crisis and lead to broader human rights abuses if left unchecked.
PunchNewspaper
