ReliefWeb

Developments

• Jonglei State

Bor was retaken by Government forces. A senior government delegation arrived to assess the situation together with armed soldiers which caused serious concern among the civilians seeking shelter there.
They were denied admission to the UNMISS PoC Area.

• Human rights

Concluding a visit to South Sudan, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights indicated, inter alia, that there are reports that all sides in the conflict have participated in human rights abuses in different places, including Juba.

International media quoted a South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation spokesperson as stating that the Government had arrested several members of the SPLA suspected of targeting and killing civilians on ethnic grounds. The spokesperson said that the Government had launched a public campaign to explain that the current conflict was not based on ‘tribal or ethnic’ affiliation, but was politically motivated.

• Unity State

The security situation in Pariang County remains relatively stable, despite continuing movement of militants (in particular along the Pariang-Yida-Jau corridor). There is a proliferation of small arms (AK47s) throughout the county, carried by members of state and non-state armed groups as well as local residents.

• Upper Nile state

In Malakal the security situation remained tense and volatile, with numerous young armed rebels moving around shooting randomly. Incidents of harassment of civilians were reported, as well as unconfirmed killing and rape of civilians. Looting of humanitarian warehouses looted and assets (vehicles and boats) coincided with the appearance in the IDP market of UNHCR branded NFIs. Stolen UN vehicles reportedly moved downtown, driven by young fighters. UNMISS conducted a short-range patrol and reported a lot of dead bodies in the streets, including in civilian clothing.

In Maban rumours continued to spread in the wake of the uncertainty prevailing in Malakal. It was confirmed that recent movements by women and children escaping Bunj were in reaction to rumours.
They have since returned to Bunj.