It is seven years since the first peace deal was signed in South Sudan and with it a commitment made to set up a African Union-backed up Hybrid Court for South Sudan (HCSS) to investigate and prosecute war crimes and other human rights violations committed in the conflict since 2011. But the creation of the HCSS has been delayed. The establishment of the HCSS is an opportunity for the AU to demonstrate African leadership on…
Entries by Amnesty International
The United Nations Security Council must renew its arms embargo on the territory of South Sudan amid the state’s failure to ensure accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and to protect survivors, witnesses and judicial actors, Amnesty International said today in a new report. The report,“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll gun you down”: conflict-related sexual violence and impunity in South Sudan, reveals how CRSV is ongoing in the country, and how guns can be used…
This briefing paper draws on the work of our organizations over the last decade and credible secondary sources, including UN reports. It proposes ten priorities that should form the basis of a comprehensive human rights agenda that are based on South Sudan’s existing obligations in the Bill of Rights, international and regional law treaties, customary law, and the human rights reforms in the R-ARCSS. Many of the recommendations set out in this document were accepted…
Executive Summary This report provides new insights into the surveillance capacity of the Government of South Sudan and the impact of how this is abusively deployed without safeguards. Cumulatively, electronic and physical surveillance –both in practice and perception –have created a pervasive climate of fear and self-censorship. While many human rights defenders continue to courageously work within the limits of this repressive environment, free speech is fraught with danger. Women human rights defenders face the…
South Sudan: Crippled justice system and blanket amnesties fuelling impunity for war crimes Two and a half years after South Sudan gained its independence, soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit andthen Vice President Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon clashed in the country’s capital, igniting an armed conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the national army, and armed opposition groups including the SPLA-In Opposition (SPLA-IO). Both government and opposition forces have committed crimes under…
In late April 2018, South Sudan government forces and their allied militias launched an offensive on Leer and Mayendit counties, in southern Unity state, which continued throughout May and June. Based on interviews with around 100 displaced people from Leer and Mayendit, this briefing describes how government forces and their allied militias attacked villages in opposition-held areas of southern Unity state and committed crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations. During these…
Since the start of South Sudan’s internal armed conflict in December 2013, hundreds of people, mostly men, have been detained under the authority of the National Security Service (NSS) and Military Intelligence Directorate in various detention facilities across the capital city, Juba and subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Others have been forcefully disappeared. Many of those who have been detained have been held under the category of “political detainees” on allegations that…
This report documents a complex multi-million dollar arms deal involving entities in the UK, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. While outlining the obligations of Ukraine and UAE to prevent irresponsible arms transfers, the report focuses on the role of a UK ‘front’ or ‘shell’ company, whose name was found on contract documents and an end user certificate. Any involvement of a UK-registered company in arms transfers to South Sudan would be in breach of…
“Do not remain silent”: Survivors of Sexual violence in South Sudan call for justice and reparations, reveals aggravated acts of sexual violence against thousands of people across the country since hostilities began in December 2013. The report is the result of a joint research project between Amnesty International and 10 South Sudanese human rights defenders. Perpetrators come from both sides of the conflict, pitting the government forces of President Salva Kiir, a Dinka, against opposition…
Rich countries are failing in their obligation to help Uganda support thousands of refugees fleeing death, rape and other human rights violations in South Sudan, said Amnesty International in a damning report launched ahead of a high-level donor summit in the Ugandan capital Kampala. More than 900,000 refugees have fled the brutal conflict in South Sudan and sought safety in Uganda, but funding shortfalls mean that many of them are not receiving basic services such…