United Nations Human rights council investigators reported on Friday that extreme violence had erupted in Sudan once more. Thousands of fighters had captured more than three-quarters of the country’s southern region. The rights watchmen cautioned that the recent attacks could result in the worst recorded bloodshed.
Sudan; a Hotspot for Challenges
Despite the formation of a transition government, insecurity is still a significant concern. A massive escalation of inter-communal conflicts has steered the recent spike in violence. In other words, the peace agreement signed two years ago has only led to a reduction in hostilities at the national level. Most of all, the lack of local and national infrastructure continues to incite chaos.
It is known to many that Sudan continues to drown in its crippling economy. With residents living under poor conditions, nothing to eat, and nowhere to sleep, conflicts will always arise. After all, a hungry man is an angry man. Sudan is an oil giant, yet essential resources like food continue to be a challenge. Its government needs to up its game to safeguard its nationals.
Other than the basic needs, the level of suppression in Sudan is quite alarming. Journalists in the country risk their lives occasionally as they attempt to document the daily problems Sudanese undergo.
“The level of State suppression and the inability of civil society or journalists to operate is now completely different,” said Commission member Andrew Clapham. “There are levels of fear and the State suppression, and the fact that you can be picked up and tortured and killed is rather different.”
The latest reports on Sudanese attacks left women, men, and children dead, maimed, displaced, impoverished. Jonglei state and Greater Pibor Administrative Area have confirmed a resurgent of such attacks. Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that the armed groups or militia perpetrating the atrocities took advantage of the ethnic differences to recruit young men.
For instance, the Dinka, Nuer, and Pastoralist militias had been involved in massive violations against civilians, killing and displacing hundreds of people. New levels of insurgency have arisen in the country. Children in the country’s remote parts are now carrying weapons while women are traded as spoils of war like chattels. Weapons are readily available like never before.
“Civilians describe combatants using new weapons which they had never seen before,” she said.
“One man told the Commission, I went to Pibor town and I saw guns being sold there. The black guns used by the NSS were being sold for 25,000 South Sudanese shillings, each less than a few hundred dollars.’ He also said that children all have guns.”
It is indeed evident that the insurgencies are incredibly high. The number of rebels involved in attacking has surged to 50,000 in a single state and even 15000 in another. Amid the violence, women are abducted, girls raped, murdered, and even homes torched.
Any Resolutions
The country’s head of state has been trying hard to restore peace and secure its nationals. Needless, he still has a long way to go. Reshuffling the cabinet by including ex-rebels was among his first resolutions in response to the rivalries. The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is also to forward its report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva come March 10th.
MORE:
- Peace Deal to Counter South Sudan Violence Rendered Futile
- Despite U.N. Peace deal, Violence still raging in South Sudan
