On Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned Volcker Turk on the risks of the escalation of hostilities in southern Sudan, calling for the immediate release of arbitrary detainees.
Turk said that the escalation of the war in South Sudan warns “a real danger that exacerbates the humanitarian situation and the already deteriorating human rights, and undermining the fragile peace process in the country.”
“All parties must decline urgently,” he added, warning them of what he called “the edge of the abyss.”
Turk called on all parties to adhere to the 2018 peace agreement, ensure the protection of civilians and property and facilitate the access of humanitarian aid in line with their obligations under international law.
The escalating violence came after a series of attacks and confrontations last February, in Nasser County, Upper Nile State, in which a militia, known as the “White Army” participated.
Most of the hostilities were concentrated in the central states of the Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Al -Wahda and the Upper Nile in southern Sudan.
Arbitous arrests
Dozens of politicians linked to the SPLM were arrested, including Riek Machar, First Vice President of South Sudan, ministers, members of parliament and military officers.
At least 55 high -ranking government officials from the SPLM between 5 and 26 March, including civilians.
Commenting on these arrests, Turk said, “I am concerned that many of these arrests may be arbitrary, as the persons concerned have been arrested without orders to arrest or follow due legal procedures.”
He called for the release immediately and without registration or condition for all who were arrested “arbitrary”.
The UN official called on the authorities to allow the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to reach the positions of detention of the National Security Agency to assess the conditions of the detainees there.
He also urged the authorities of South Sudan to take urgent, effective and meaningful steps to stop the spread of hate speech, as he put it.
The clashes between the defense forces of the people of South Sudan and the liberation army of Sudan and the armed groups allied with them had killed at least 75 civilians and wounded 78 others, in addition to the displacement of thousands of their homes.
Military actions have escalated with reports on the use of random air strikes and land attacks by the South Sudan Defense Forces on Sudan Liberation Army sites in parts of the Vangak region in Jonglei, and the Tonga region of the state of Upper Nile between May 3 and 20 this May.
