U.S., UN warn of impending attacks in South Sudan

The United States and United Nations warned in separate meetings Wednesday that South Sudan’s government is plotting major attacks targeting civilians.

U.S. Ambassador to the Human Rights Council Keith Harper told a UN session in Geneva the South Sudanese government has mobilized at least 4,000 militiamen in the country’s Central Equatoria state in preparation for attacks. Central Equatoria, previously one of the few peaceful states in the country, has become a central battleground in the renewed clashes, with more than 1,900 homes destroyed in the past two months, Harper said.

“We have credible information that the South Sudanese government is currently targeting civilians in Central Equatoria and … preparing for large-scale attacks in the coming days and weeks,” Harper said.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the deployment of additional troops creates a huge red flag on the country’s motives. South Sudan’s Ambassador Kuol Alor Kuol Arop, who also attended the Geneva session, denied any plans for an attack.

Adama Dieng, the UN adviser on the prevention of genocide, said earlier this month Central Equatoria and the Yei region remain at risk of genocide. South Sudan’s conflict began in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. The opposing forces signed a peace deal last year, but the fighting has persisted. Thousands of people have died, and the conflict has displaced more than two million people. South Sudan’s government Monday blocked a team of international monitors from visiting Central Equatoria to investigate whether officials were keeping the peace deal.

Yasmin Sooka, a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights, said many people in South Sudan expect the conflict to intensify. Sooka and two other members of the commission, who wrapped up a 10-day visit across South Sudan yesterday, said the warring South Sudanese forces continue to forcefully recruit child soldiers.

“This renewed recruitment is an indicator that all parties are preparing for conflict,” Sooka said.

The United States has advocated for a UN arms embargo resolution against South Sudan, but has faced resistance from other Security Council members. The draft resolution includes travel bans and asset freezes on top country officials. South Sudan’s government needs to invest less in acquiring weapons and more on issues like famine that plague parts of South Sudan, Power said.

“We are raising the alarm,” she told VOA. “We are calling on the government of South Sudan not to move forward with the offensive they have planned.”