131 women raped in southern Unity State

JUBA – At least 131 women and girls were raped and nearly 200 civilians killed in South Sudan’s troubled Unity State in three months’ time, according to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“The two bodies have documented gross violations and abuses of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law in South Sudan’s Unity State.

“These violations were committed during clashes between joint Government Forces and affiliated armed militias/groups on one hand, and elements of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO (RM)) – loyal to First Vice-President Riek Machar – on the other” said UNMISS.

The report, which covers the period between 11 February and 31 May 2022 as per UNMISS is based on thirty-two verification missions it conducted in three Unity State counties of Koch, Leer, Mayendit, and neighboring areas.

“The hostilities in southern Unity State affected at least 28 villages and settlements with approximately 173 civilians killed, 12 injured, and 37 women and children abducted.

“Many of the abductees were subjected to sexual violence, including girls as young as eight-years-old and a nine-year-old girl who was gang-raped to death. A total of 131 cases of rape and gang rape were documented” UNMISS added.

The mission went on to say approximately 44,000 civilians were displaced from at least twenty-six villages.

“UNMISS identified joint Government forces and allied militias/groups reportedly operating under the command of officials of Koch and Mayendit counties as the main perpetrators of the human rights violations and abuses. The SPLM/A-IO (RM) also perpetrated attacks in Mirmir Payam, Koch County.

“Human rights violations were committed with impunity. The Government is duty-bound under international law to protect civilians, investigate allegations of human rights violations, and hold suspected perpetrators accountable in compliance with fair trial standards,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom.

Rich in oil

In April this year, the UN mission in South Sudan said at least 72 civilians were killed, and 64 women and girls raped between February and April in Leer County in Unity State.

The mission strongly condemned what it said was the widespread sexual violence, killings including beheadings, burning alive of civilians, and attacks on humanitarians in Leer County.

According to reports earlier this year, South Sudan produces 156,000 barrels of crude daily and Unity State may provide as much as one-third of overall output.

Oil proceeds means the area would get a fair percentage of the proceeds to develop roads, schools, hospitals and provide clean water.

But this hasn’t been the case as communities remain un-impoverished while service delivery is much wanting with most provisions undertaken by nongovernmental organizations.

Unity State was one of the epicenters of the crisis which ended in 2018. Its oil was a target, leading to closure of production.