Corporate report

South Sudan - country of concern: latest update 31 December 2014

Updated 21 January 2015

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Any incidents or events taking place after 31 December 2014 will be covered in future reports.

0.1 Latest Update: 31 December 2014

During this reporting period, the conflict in South Sudan continued with low-level fighting in Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile States, and credible reports of human rights violations and abuses. Such allegations include the targeting of civilians, most recently from reports of attacks in Bentiu on 29 October, the use of sexual violence, and the recruitment of child soldiers. The UK is also seriously concerned about the narrowing of civil and political space in South Sudan.

15 December marked the anniversary of the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. Since the conflict began, nearly two million people have been displaced, and the UN reports that human rights abuses have been committed by both sides. Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, issued a statement on the anniversary, stressing the dire consequences of the conflict on the civilian population, and emphasising the need for South Sudan’s leaders to resolve the crisis and secure a peace agreement urgently.

Despite commitments from both parties to the conflict to hold the perpetrators of human rights abuses and violations to account, little or no progress has been made. Government investigative committees are yet to report their findings, and a formal response is still awaited to the UN Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) Human Rights report of May 2014. The UK continues to raise this issue with the government of South Sudan and press for a response.

The UK, wider international community and NGOs have all repeatedly expressed concern about the lack of accountability and the need to challenge the perceived culture of impunity. The report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry (AU CoI) is expected to be published early in 2015, and to highlight the need for accountability as well as to set out options for ensuring justice. The UK remains fully supportive of the CoI’s work and has consistently highlighted that it is vital that human rights violations and abuses be fully investigated and those responsible held to account.

The fragile security environment remains and breaches of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement continue. The conflict environment continues to foster circumstances that allow abuses and violations to take place. Breaches were recorded by the UN and the Inter-Governmental Authority for Development’s (IGAD) Monitoring and Verification team during fighting between government and opposition forces in Jonglei and Upper Nile states in this reporting period.

Credible reporting from the UN and NGO partners continues to highlight the use of child soldiers by both sides during the conflict. The UK Embassy in Juba continues to monitor developments on this issue closely. In addition, Mr Duddridge hosted a Children and Armed Conflict roundtable for South Sudan to highlight further the impact of this issue during the crisis and the importance the UK attaches to addressing it.

The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of the use of sexual violence across South Sudan. Reports suggest such violence is a direct result of the ongoing conflict. Sexual violence also continues to play a prominent role in inter-tribal violence. At the conclusion of her visit in mid-October, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Sexual Violence, Zainab Bangura, and President Kiir signed a joint communiqué committing South Sudan to develop an action plan on ending the use of sexual violence and tackling its effects. The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Sexual Violence in Conflict, William Hague MP, wrote to President Kiir in November to recognise this commitment, and called on him to implement the measures set out in the communiqué. South Sudan remains a priority country for the UK’s Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, and we continue to press the government of South Sudan to draw up its action plan. In October, South Sudan marked the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.

There have been further developments on South Sudan’s domestic legislation with implications for civil, humanitarian and political space. In November, the international community and civil society raised concerns about the National Security bill’s compliance with South Sudan’s interim constitution. We welcome the President’s subsequent decision in December to return the National Security bill to Parliament for further consideration; it remains under consideration although NGOs continue to raise concerns about their ability to operate in South Sudan if passed. The UK and our international partners continue to raise this issue with the government of South Sudan.

During the reporting period we received credible reports of harassment and intimidation of journalists. As a consequence of publicly expressed hostility by the government of South Sudan towards certain media outlets, self-censorship by journalists and media houses continues to be widespread.

The death penalty remains in force in South Sudan. In early December, a death sentence was passed by the High Court in Lakes State on a South Sudan national for the killing of Paramount Chief Apareer Chut. In mid-December the army announced the death sentence of a soldier for killing a fellow soldier. The UK continues to call for global abolition of the death penalty.

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