The United Nations has voiced serious concern after a senior South Sudanese military official urged troops to “spare no-one,” including “children, the elderly, and civilians,” during deployments to opposition-controlled areas.
The head of the UN mission in South Sudan described the remarks as deeply troubling, stating: “Inflammatory rhetoric calling for violence against civilians… is utterly abhorrent and must stop now.”
The comments were made by South Sudan’s deputy army chief, Gen Johnson Oluny, while addressing fighters from the Agwelek militia ahead of their deployment to parts of Jonglei state. Government officials later insisted that his remarks did not constitute a formal military order.
In recent weeks, forces aligned with South Sudan’s suspended Vice-President, Riek Machar, have taken control of several areas. Machar is currently standing trial on charges of murder, treason and crimes against humanity allegations he has denied.
As fighting intensifies, the military has instructed civilians, as well as personnel from the UN mission and humanitarian agencies, to evacuate three counties in Jonglei state ahead of a planned operation against opposition forces.
Only a week earlier, the chief of the defence force had ordered troops in the region to “crush the rebellion” within seven days.
In a video circulated on Facebook, Gen Oluny can be heard telling his troops to “spare no-one – the elderly, children, birds or leave no house standing.”
However, speaking to the BBC’s Newsday programme, the government rejected claims that the statement amounted to a directive to target civilians.
“The government is committed to ensure the protection of civilians. We give warnings to civilians, in order not to be caught up in a crossfire. The government is responsible and are protecting civilians,” said Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny.
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (UNCHRSS) said it was “gravely alarmed” by the renewed violence in Jonglei state, north of the capital, Juba, where witnesses reported civilians fleeing into surrounding swamps.
According to the UN, escalating clashes have forced more than 180,000 people to flee their homes.
In a statement released in Geneva on Sunday night, the UNCHRSS warned: ”No senior political or military leader in Juba can claim to be unaware of the blatant public incitements to commit serious crimes in Jonglei.”
UNCHRSS chair Yasmin Sooka added: “Language that calls for the killing of those who are hors de combat [no longer participating in hostilities] and civilians, including the elderly with assertions that ‘no one should be spared’ is not only shocking, it is profoundly dangerous.”
The military announced that civilians living in Nyirol, Uror and Akobo counties were “directed to immediately evacuate for safety to government-controlled areas as soon as possible.”
Staff of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) and workers from non-governmental organisations were also ordered to leave the three counties within 48 hours.
An Unmiss spokesperson told Reuters: “Our peacekeepers in Akobo remain in place, carrying out all efforts under our mandate to help de-escalate tensions and prevent conflict.” It was unclear whether UN personnel remained in the other affected counties.
Meanwhile, Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) told the BBC that its forces expect to reach the capital, Juba, by the end of February.
The army dismissed the claim, arguing that opposition forces lack the capability to threaten the capital.
“We are not sure if they will have the courage to face us, but we are prepared for any eventualities,” said army spokesperson Gen Lul Ruai Koang.
Koang acknowledged that the SPLM-IO controls parts of Jonglei but stressed that Bor, the state capital, remains firmly under government control.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, descended into conflict in 2013 just two years after independence when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of attempting to overthrow him.
Although a 2018 peace agreement formally ended the civil war that claimed nearly 400,000 lives, it has never been fully implemented. Relations between Kiir and Machar have since deteriorated amid persistent ethnic tensions and intermittent violence.
The power-sharing arrangement between the rival camps is now effectively defunct following Kiir’s move against Machar, his long-time rival and vice-president, who was arrested last March.
During the civil war, the country fractured along ethnic lines, with the conflict marked by violence between members of Kiir’s Dinka community and the Nuer groups widely perceived as supporting Machar.
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