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At least 75 civilians have been killed in hostilities between the national army (SSPDF) and the Sudan People\u2019s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) \u2013 which is both a political party and militia group loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar \u2013 and their respective allied armed groups, said UN human rights office, OHCHR, in a press release.<\/p>\n
Thousands have been displaced from their homes.<\/p>\n
South Sudan was plunged into civil war in 2013 between supporters of the President Salva Kiir and his rival Mr. Machar but a 2018 peace accord led to a fragile power-sharing agreement.<\/p>\n
Escalating hostilities \u201cportend a real risk of further exacerbating the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation<\/strong>,\u201d said\u00a0Volker T\u00fcrk, head of the UN human rights office (OHCHR), urging all parties to the conflict to \u201curgently pull back from the brink.\u201d<\/p>\n The latest armed violence erupted in February when a militia group identified as the White Army reportedly launched a series of attacks in Upper Nile State, OHCHR said.<\/p>\n Hostilities intensified between 3 May and 20 May with reports of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and river and ground offensives by the SSPDF on SPLA-IO positions in the states of Jonglei and Upper Nile.<\/p>\n Civilian displacement further increased on 21 May because of the SPLA-IO and allies\u2019 counter-offensive in Jonglei State.<\/p>\n \u201cI urge all parties to uphold the 2018 peace agreement<\/strong>,\u201d said the UN human rights chief, calling for the warring parties to \u201censure protection of civilians and civilian objects,\u201d and facilitating \u201chumanitarian access in line with their obligations under international law.\u201d<\/p>\n Between 5 and 26 March, at least 55 high-ranking government officials affiliated with the SPLM-IP, among them civilians, have been arrested across the country. Notably, South Sudan\u2019s first vice-president, ministers, members of parliament and military officers were among the dozens of politicians who have been detained.<\/p>\n \u201cI am concerned that many of the detentions are arbitrary in nature,\u201d Mr T\u00fcrk said, as these arrests were conducted without warrant or due process.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr T\u00fcrk called for the immediate and unconditional release of those arbitrarily detained, as he urged for authorities to grant the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) access to National Security Service detention sites to assess the welfare of those detained there.<\/p>\n Finally, the UN also urged the authorities to take \u201cprompt, effective and meaningful\u201d steps to halt the spread of hate speech in the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nIntensifying hostilities<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Concern of arbitrary detention<\/strong><\/h2>\n