South Sudan civil rights group urges UN sanctions after ‘incendiary’ remarks

JUBA — A South Sudanese civil rights coalition on Sunday called on the United Nations to impose targeted sanctions on what it described as “peace saboteurs” and urged an immediate ceasefire, saying recent rhetoric by senior military leaders risked encouraging abuses against civilians.

The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) issued the appeal after a widely circulated address by Johnson Olony, a militia commander who also serves as deputy army chief for mobilisation and disarmament.

In the speech, delivered on Saturday in Poktap, Jonglei State, Olony addressed troops preparing for operations against the main armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO). He ordered them to “spare no lives.”

“Gen. Johnson Olony …. was heard instructing his soldiers, as they prepared for deployment, to ‘spare nothing’—including the elderly and even livestock. He further asserted that rebellions largely originate from Upper Nile and declared an intention to end all rebellions this year,” the coalition said in a statement.

The group also cited remarks by the army’s top commander, Paul Nang Majok, saying similar language had been used earlier in the week.

“This speech followed a similarly alarming statement made earlier this week in Bor by the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Paul Nang Majok, who ordered troops to end the rebellion within seven days,” the statement said.

The coalition described the comments as “incendiary” and warned that public statements by commanders could carry legal consequences.

“Such statements may constitute evidence of premeditation to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. In today’s digital era, public statements and military actions are permanently recorded and may be used as evidence in future legal proceedings. This warning applies to all parties to the conflict,” it said.

“Any attack on unarmed civilians is a war crime under international humanitarian law. Statements made prior to such attacks may establish intent and criminal responsibility. Both the SSPDF and the SPLM-IO bear equal obligations to protect civilians. Reports of indiscriminate bombardment of civilian populations and infrastructure raise serious concerns and may amount to war crimes,” it added.

Fighting has intensified in recent weeks in Upper Nile and Jonglei states, raising fears that the 2018 peace agreement could further unravel amid renewed clashes between government forces and the SPLA-IO.

The PCCA placed primary responsibility for the renewed violence on President Salva Kiir, accusing his administration of undermining the peace deal known as the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

“President Salva Kiir bears primary responsibility for the resumption of violence. His sustained efforts to undermine the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS)—including the detention of SPLM-IO leaders, unilateral amendments to the Agreement, attacks on cantonment sites, unilateral deployment of non-unified forces to Nasir, removal and attempted assassination of the SPLM-IO governor in Western Equatoria, and attacks on SPLM-IO positions in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal—have directly contributed to the current crisis. The ongoing politically motivated trials of SPLM-IO leaders continue to fuel instability,” the statement said.

“The PCCA calls on President Kiir to immediately declare a ceasefire, release detained political leaders, and initiate an inclusive national political dialogue. Ethnic wars are unwinnable, and the cost to civilians is unacceptable,” it added.

The coalition urged regional and international bodies to intervene.

“The PCCA further appeals to Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council to demand an immediate return to dialogue, impose targeted sanctions on peace saboteurs, and apply decisive pressure to halt the violence,” the statement said.