Clashes between South Sudan’s army and fighters backing the rival to President Salva Kiir have killed at least 75 civilians since February, the UN human rights chief said on Friday.
Dozens more have been injured and thousands forced to flee their homes in the world’s newest state, said United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, was plunged into a civil war between 2013 and 2018 that left around 400,000 dead and four million displaced.
A 2018 power-sharing agreement between the warring parties had allowed for a precarious calm.
But for several months, violent clashes have set President Kiir’s faction against supporters of his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, who was arrested in March.
The fighting between Kiir’s SSPDF, Machar’s SPLA-IO, and their respective militias has left “at least 75 civilians killed and 78 others injured, and displaced thousands from their homes”, Turk said in a statement.
There are reports of “indiscriminate aerial bombardments, river and ground offensives” by the South Sudanese army against SPLA-IO positions in Jonglei State and Upper Nile regions,” the statement said.
Civilian-populated areas have also been struck, including a medical facility operated by (medical charity) Doctors Without Borders (MSF).”
On Wednesday, the SPLA-IO and allied armed groups launched a counter-offensive to recapture areas it had lost in Fangak county in Jonglei State, causing more civilians to flee their homes.
According to a UN estimate in mid-April, around 125,000 people have been displaced since the escalation of tensions.
Turk said dozens of opposition politicians linked to the SPLM-IO had been arrested, including Machar, ministers, MPs, and army officers, as had civilians.
He expressed concern over arbitrary detentions and a rise in hate speech since February.
“All parties must urgently pull back from the brink,” Turk said. “I urge all parties to uphold the 2018 peace agreement.”
The escalation of violence risks further worsening the already terrible humanitarian situation and widespread violations of human rights, he said.
