UN envoy hits out at South Sudan sexual violence

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan (AA) - The UN has called on East Africa's trade bloc, IGAD, to urge the Government of South Sudan to take action against sexual violence crimes committed by combatants following recent clashes between ex-rebels and government forces in the capital, Juba.

“I commend the leadership role of Intergovernmental Authority on Development in seeking a political solution to the crisis in South Sudan, and its condemnation of the egregious sexual violence crimes being committed.

"I urge the Heads of State and Government, during their deliberations, to acknowledge the gravity of sexual violence; to request the South Sudanese authorities to take immediate measures to prevent their troops and associated militia from committing these crimes; and to take action against those responsible," UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura said in statement issued late Wednesday.

Bangura said sexual violence crimes had been a brutal feature of the conflict in South Sudan, and were being committed with total impunity, in a pattern that suggested they were part of a military strategy, commanded and condoned against the civilian population, especially women and girls.

She said at least two hundred victims including women and girls were raped or gang raped, allegedly by members of the military and associated militia in the context of the fighting that erupted in Juba last month.

In two communiques signed in 2014, South Sudan had made a commitment to immediately cease and prevent the commission of sexual violence crimes, hold perpetrators accountable, and improve services to survivors.

The first one was a Joint Communiqué signed by Bangura and President Salva Kiir on October 11, 2014.

This was followed by a Unilateral Communiqué issued on December 18, 2014 by current First Vice-President Riek Machar.

East Africa’s eight-nation trade and security bloc IGAD is scheduled to meet in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa Friday to look into the crisis in South Sudan, which has been a growing concern for the region.