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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.
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Court Pushes Falana, Falz’s Case Against VDM To January
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.
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Rwandan Soldier Kills Five In Bar Shooting
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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Kwara State University Responds To Police Killing Of Ex-Student
The Kwara State University (KWASU) has clarified that Ayeyemi Sulaiman, reportedly killed by the police in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State, is not a current student of the Institution.
According to a statement from Dr. Saeedat Aliyu, the acting Director of University Relations, Sulaiman had voluntarily withdrawn from the university’s Department of Statistics in the 2018/2019 academic session when he was in his second year.
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Dr. Aliyu expressed KWASU’s condolences, stating, “The management of Kwara State University strongly sympathises with the family of the deceased and prays that God gives the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
In response to the incident, the Kwara State Police Command confirmed the death and stated that an investigation is ongoing. Police spokesperson DSP Ejire-Adeyemi Toun said some officers have been detained and are undergoing an orderly room trial at the Police Headquarters.
“The Kwara State Police Command is aware of this unfortunate incident which led to the sudden death of Suleiman Olayinka (M) 27yrs,” Toun said, adding that officers involved had been identified and detained as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.