Ban Ki-moon condemns continued fighting in South Sudan

21 May 2015

Ban Ki-moon condemns continued fighting in South Sudan

20 May 2015 - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the escalation of hostilities in the past ten days between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the SPLA in Opposition and their allied forces in Unity and Upper Nile States.

“The Secretary-General underscores that this fighting is unacceptable,” said a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.

It noted that the fighting is a part of a series of violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by the parties on 23 January 2014 and undermines the ongoing Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in South Sudan.

“He is appalled by the reports of human rights violations committed by the SPLA and their allied forces, including the burning of villages, and the killing and rape of civilians, in the course of their military operations in Unity State,” said the statement.

Mr. Ban also deplores the death of four internally displaced persons (IDPs) caught in the cross-fire in the protection of civilians site within the UNMISS compound in Melut, the statement added.

“He demands that immediate national investigations be conducted so that those responsible for these crimes are held accountable by their respective leadership,” the statement stressed.

A statement issued by UNMISS earlier today also condemned the recent upsurge in fighting which has a direct impact upon UMISS.

It revealed that on 19 May, two mortar bombs landed within the UNMISS compound and the protection of civilians’ site in Melut, resulting in the deaths of four civilians, including a woman and a child and severely injuring another eight civilians who are currently receiving treatment for their wounds.

“UNMISS is deeply concerned by the disregard for civilian lives, UN personnel and facilities,” the statement said.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Ellen Loej, reminded parties to the conflict of their obligation to take all measures not to harm civilians and guarantee the safety of international aid organizations and United Nations personnel and assets.

“I call upon them to respect the sanctity of UN installations and staff, so the United Nations can continue to implement its activities and UNMISS its protection of civilians’ mandate,” said Ms. Loej.

Until the outbreak of the recent fighting, UNMISS had been protecting almost 1,000 civilians on its base in Melut. A further 270 displaced persons arrived yesterday on the UNMISS base while another 250 to 350 are currently staying in an area adjacent to the compound.

Mr. Ban also called upon President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar to immediately cease all military operations and reminds them of their obligations to protect civilians under international human rights and humanitarian law.

He also reminded the parties that they must respect the inviolability of UNMISS premises, including protection of civilian sites, which are now host to more than 120,000 IDPs.