Commemorating 15 December 2013: SSHURSA urges the warring parties to value human dignity and end the violence. Sends condolences to the victim-families and survivors.

For immediate release: 15 December 2017,

Dec 14, 2018(Nyamilepedia) —– Commemorating 15 December 2013: SSHURSA urges the warring parties to value human dignity and end the violence. Sends condolences to the victim-families and survivors.

South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy(SSHURSA) in strongest terms possible condemns all forms of violence in South Sudan. SSHURSA appeals to all political leaders of South Sudan under President Salva Kiir, armed opposition Movement under former Vice-President Dr Riek Machar and other armed and non-armed entities to stand beyond politics to end the violence. The leaders should respect the dignity of their people and with urgency, restore peace in South Sudan. They should genuinely engage in Intergovernmental Authority on Development(IGAD)–led high level revitalisation forum(hlrf) scheduled for 17-22 December 2017 in Addis Ababa.

SSHURSA reminds all persons of conscience in IGAD, African Union, United Nations, Troika and the rest of regional and international bodies, of the horrific scenes of hunger, diseases, violence and sufferings in which women, children and elderly persons have been living in internally displaced persons’ camps, refugee camps and generally in South Sudan. SSHURSA urges once again the international community to overcome indifference, interests and advance a united front to hold all South Sudan’s current military and political leaders accountable, pressure them to cease hostilities and demonstrate leadership to end the violence immediately. The leaders should be criminally held accountable over failure to restore peace.

15 December 2017 marks four years of civil war in South Sudan. In Juba, on 15 December 2013, political leadership battles turned violence within the ruling party of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement(SPLM). The violence extended to the national army-dividing itself into factions backing the political elites. In the first days of violence, members of the Nuer ethnicity were massacred in Juba by what was branded as an ‘organised privately nurtured Dinka ethnic force’, allegedly manned by President Salva Kiir. A declared rebel force, formed by former Vice-President Dr Riek Machar, and predominantly, constituting of Nuer soldiers, was also accused of carrying out revenge killings against Dinka ethnicity in Bor, Akobo among others. SSHURSA notes this day as one of the most unfortunate days in which the independence-aspirations of South Sudanese were dusbined.

SSHURSA sends condolences to all the families of victims, all survivors of 15 December 2013, those who died thereafter and continue to die up to now. It finally urges all South Sudanese to commonly stand for peace above political rhetorics and confront with truth those who profitably perpetuate the violence. END

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Juba, Republic of South Sudan