Human Rights High Commissioner on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the serious and growing human rights violations over the past ten days in South Sudan.
Navi Pillay, in a statement, called on the leadership of both sides to protect civilians and refrain from instigating violence.
She said ‘mass extrajudicial killings, the targeting of individuals on the basis of their ethnicity and arbitrary detentions have been documented in recent days.’
Ms Pillay added that ‘a mass grave was discovered in Bentiu, Unity State, with at least two others reportedly in Juba.’
United Nations in South Sudan or UNMISS denied mass graves in Bentiu and Juba.
Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide voiced their concern over the serious risk of an escalation of inter-communal violence.
They noted that targeted attacks against civilians and UN personnel could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.
They urged all parties to exercise restraint and comply with international humanitarian and human rights law.