2 January 2014 - The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) had formed a committee to investigate the involvement of organized forces in killing civilians in Juba, the army Chief of Staff said in Juba today.

Gen. James Hoth Mai was speaking at a press conference soon after UNMISS had expressed concern over mounting evidence of serious human rights violations in the days after fighting broke out in several states in the country.

The general added that the army had set up another committee to investigate incidents on the night of 15 December that triggered off fighting which left hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced in many parts of the country.

UNMISS welcomed the government’s move to investigate triggers of the ongoing conflict.

“UNMISS welcomes the formation of these committees and urges the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to set up mechanisms that are consistent with international standards and principles and ensures credibility,” said UNMISS Spokesperson Joe Contreras.

In a statement issued on 31 December, UNMISS Chief Hilde F. Johnson condemned “in the strongest possible terms” atrocities committed against innocent civilians of different communities by elements of both sides during the crisis.

“There is no excuse for these terrible acts of violence. All perpetrators must be held accountable,” the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) said.

She said the discovery of large numbers of bodies in Juba, as well as the Upper Nile and Jonglei state capitals of Malakal and Bor, respectively, were evidence of extra-judicial killings of civilians and captured soldiers.

UN Human Rights Officers had also observed massive displacement and arbitrary detentions of civilians and would continue to investigate all reports of serious human rights violations, according to the statement.

"The Mission calls on key leaders in South Sudan to send strong public messages to their respective constituencies insisting that the violence must stop, and that anyone disobeying these orders will be punished severely,” it urged.

Ever since violence initially flared, UNMISS had viewed the crisis as a political struggle and strongly taken issue with attempts to portray unfolding developments as an ethnic conflict, Ms. Johnson said.

“The mission has also warned that some elements in the country might seek to exploit the ongoing violence to pursue their own ethnically driven agendas. It is deeply disturbing that this now seems to have happened.”