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South Sudan: Pillay warns against rapidly deteriorating security situation and risk of ethnic clashes
GENEVA – The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned Thursday against the rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Sudan and the consequences for the civilian population.
On Sunday, violent clashes between soldiers erupted in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, leading to an unknown number of casualties. The fighting then spread to other parts of the country with clashes between rival Nuer and Dinka soldiers within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and attacks on civilians reported in Jonglei, Unity and Warrap States.
“I am deeply worried about the safety and security of civilians caught in the crossfire. The risk of seeing the fighting taking on an ethnic dimension is extremely high and could result in a dangerous situation,” Pillay said.
“We have received reports of civilians killed in Juba based on their ethnicity. I call on the Government to send a clear message on command responsibility within the SPLA to prevent retaliatory attacks based on ethnicity and tribal affiliation and to hold the alleged perpetrators accountable,” said the High Commissioner.
In Juba, an estimated 20,000 people, mainly women and children, are still camped at UN premises while in Bor, in Jonglei State, more than 10,000 internally displaced people have sought refuge on UN premises. Other civilians are reported to be leaving the town, fearing attack by rival groups.
“I am extremely concerned by the fate of individuals arrested by the Government and reports of numerous extra-judicial killings. In particular, I urge the authorities to clarify the whereabouts of former senior government officials arrested in Juba two days ago, including the former Governor of Lakes State and the former Secretary General of the SPLM ,” Pillay said.
The Government confirmed the arrest of at least 10 senior former government officials, including six ministers. In Warrap State, security forces loyal to the Government also arrested a number of key local officials accused of supporting the alleged coup plot.
“I urge the Government to ensure that all those detained are accorded due process and that they are promptly either charged or released,” said the High Commissioner.
“I urge all parties, including members of the security forces, to exercise utmost restraint and comply with international human rights and humanitarian law,” Pillay said.
Students of the University of Calabar have raised serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of several hostels on campus, with many fearing that the buildings could collapse due to structural damage.
The alarming situation was highlighted during a phone-in segment of the university’s Unical International Radio programme, What I Will Do If I Had Power to Run Unical, on Thursday evening.
Students, particularly those residing in Hostels 8 and 9, expressed deep worry about the growing number of cracks appearing on the walls, exacerbated by the ongoing heavy rains in Calabar.
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These cracks, they fear, could lead to the collapse of the structures, posing a significant safety risk to residents.
Jane, a female student from Malabo Republic, spoke out on the programme, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue.
She said, “If I had the power to run this school, the first thing I would do is initiate a massive renovation of the hostels, especially those in Malabo Republic.
“The cracks in the walls of halls 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9 are major safety concerns. The rains we’ve been having could worsen the situation and lead to a disaster. These walls could cave in at any time, and the consequences could be devastating.”
Other students echoed similar concerns, highlighting the lack of basic amenities such as electricity, which has contributed to unhygienic conditions within the hostels.
This has led to unhealthy activities in the dormitories, further adding to the students’ frustrations.
In response to the complaints, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Florence Bankong Obi, assured the students that the issue had been noted and that action would be taken to address the dilapidated state of the hostels.
“We are aware of the situation, and it has already been included in our plans for immediate action,” Prof. Obi stated.
The students are now calling on the university administration, as well as the Students’ Union Government, to prioritize the renovation of the hostels and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.
The Ikeja High Court has scheduled January 23 for the hearing of a high-profile defamation case filed by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, musician and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, against social media personality Vincent Otse, also known as “VeryDarkMan” (VDM).
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel for Falana and Falz, Mr. Muiz Banire (SAN), informed the court that the necessary documents, including the originating process, had been filed and served to the opposing party.
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Banire added that a motion on notice was served on October 25, though Justice Matthias Dawodu noted that the originating process was not currently before the court.
To address the matter, Banire requested an adjournment to allow for administrative filings to be properly completed.
“In this circumstance, my lord, the best thing to do is to adjourn the matter so that we can go back to the registry to file all the administrative processes,” Banire told the court.
In response, counsel for VeryDarkMan, Mr. Marvin Omorogbe, raised concerns about the procedural validity of the case, asserting that there was no valid writ of summons before the court.
Omorogbe argued that the current writ was legally invalid and urged the court to dismiss the case on those grounds.
Justice Dawodu ultimately granted the adjournment request, setting the hearing for January 23 to allow the claimants time to address the procedural issues.
A Rwandan soldier has reportedly opened fire inside a bar, resulting in the deaths of five civilians in a southwestern Rwandan town.
The incident, which took place early Wednesday, led to the arrest of the soldier, identified by the Rwandan Defence Forces (RDF) as a 39-year-old sergeant. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, according to the army’s statement.
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“The RDF has arrested the suspect and will take necessary legal action against him,” said the military in an official release.
In a similar case, Rwandan soldiers faced accusations in 2020 after allegedly raping and assaulting civilians during the Covid lockdown in the Kangondo slum of Kigali, the nation’s capital. The incident, involving six soldiers, raised significant public concern at the time.
This tragic event has drawn national and international attention, with calls for swift justice for the victims.
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