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South Sudan Soldiers Killed Civilians, Raped Women - UN Human Rights Chief

© AFP 2023 / CHARLES LOMODONG / cdsSudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers sit on the ground at a containment site outside of Juba (File)
Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers sit on the ground at a containment site outside of Juba (File) - Sputnik International
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South Sudan soldiers executed civilians and raped women and girls from ethnic groups during last month’s fighting in the capital of Juba, the UN humanitarian chief said Thursday.

Children soldiers sit on February 10, 2015 with their rifles at a ceremony of the child soldiers disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration in South Sudan. - Sputnik International
Africa
Nearly 60,000 Flee South Sudan for Neighboring States Amid Renewed Violence
MOSCOW (Sputnik) Fierce clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and those supporting First Vice President Riek Machar started in Juba on July 7 and lasted for five days, claiming the lives of over 300 people.

"While some civilians were killed in crossfire between the fighting forces, others were reportedly summarily executed by Government (SPLA) soldiers, who appear to have specifically targeted people of Nuer origin," Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

According to the United Nations, the Juba fighting and its aftermath resulted in the deaths of at least 73 civilians and widespread sexual violence, attributed mostly to government soldiers.

“We have documented at least 217 cases of sexual violence in Juba between 8 and 25 July,” Zeid said. “According to the information we have gathered so far, those most affected were displaced Nuer women and girls and those responsible seem to have been mostly SPLA.”

An armed ethnic conflict erupted in South Sudan in December 2013, one year and a half after the nation gained independence from Sudan, when Kiir accused Machar of preparing a military coup. Over a million people have fled their home due to the conflict.

In August 2015, Kiir and Machar signed a peace deal that envisaged the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity.

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