Sep 24, 2021 — The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan announced that it has found staggering evidence during its recent investigation in Warrap and Lakes states that the recently handpicked military governors of these two states have ordered extrajudicial executions of civilians that include minors and that must stop henceforth.
Speaking to the Commission in Geneva on Thursday, Yasmin Sooka, a human rights lawyer and the Chairperson of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, strongly condemns the governors of the two states for ordering summary execution of more than 56 people in March and July this year.
“In March and July, the governors of Warran state and Lakes state ordered the summary execution of more than 56 individuals including minors,” Mrs. Sooka said.
U.N. Commission on Human Rights stressed that since these extra-judicial killings are being ordered openly by governors who were appointed through presidential decrees, this practice could be widespread across the country.
“These extrajudicial killings orchestrated by governors from the ruling party are sufficiently similar, widespread and systematic and may constitute crimes against humanity.” Mrs. Sooka continued.
The Chair on Human Rights warns that South Sudan is suffering and has suffered enough in the hands of its leaders and such must stop.
Speaking on a report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday, Yasmin warned that the country is suffering a human rights crisis of epic proportions, enmeshing its population in a cycle of violence, abuse and poverty.
According to the report, nine of the 10 states in South Sudan are engulfed in what the U.N. Commission calls alarming levels of conflict 10 years after independence was declared and despite multiple peace treaties signed to end the civil war that erupted in 2013.
The report documents the prevalence of enforced disappearances, torture, rape, and conflict-related sexual violence and the forced recruitment of child soldiers throughout the country.
It finds widespread lawlessness and violence have intensified, resulting in many deaths and the forcible displacement of millions of people.
The same report found evidence that South Sudanese leaders have embezzled over $73 millions USD within the last two years.
“We have sought to clarify that the government of South Sudan has responsibility for violations of the right to health and the right to education, and the failure to provide adequate resources to fulfill these rights is related to the misappropriation of the revenue, which ought to be deposited in bank accounts of the state and then used to provide for education and health” Clapham said.
Listening to the U.N. experts report was the South Sudan minister of justice and constitutional affairs, R.M.A. Kachuoli who quickly denied all the allegations in the report as unfounded.
Kachuoli said the security situation and economy of his country are relatively calm and stable. He went on to praise President Salva Kiir and his deputies for doing a magnificent work through the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
