Gov’t of Lakes dismisses as ‘baseless’ alleged extrajudicial killings

JUBA — The government of South Sudan’s Lakes State has issued a statement describing as baseless and unfounded a press release by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in which  the world mission said over 40 have died since March as a result of extrajudicial killings perpetrated by state governments of Lakes and Warrap.

In a statement on Monday, the UNMISS said its Human Rights Division has since March 2021 “documented at least 14 incidents of extrajudicial killings in Warrap, resulting in the execution of 29 males, including boys and elderly men. The victims were allegedly removed from prison or police custody and brought before local officials for ‘sentencing’”.

The world mission also said it received reports “that 13 people have been arbitrarily executed since mid-June at the instruction of state officials in Cueibet and Rumbek East counties in Lakes State.”

In a statement on Tuesday, the Lakes State government described the statement by UNMISS as unfounded, baseless and biased and urged the world mission to substantiate its findings.

“… the Government of Lakes State categorically dismiss[es] UNMISS report as unfounded, baseless and bias[ed],” the statement signed by acting Lakes state minister of information William Koji reads in part.

It added that the state government “would want UNMISS to substantiate its report now and in the future to avoid misleading opinion and maintain responsible working relations with the State Government.”

“Lakes state government would invite UNMISS to provide credible information on its report contained in its press release.”