Human Rights Watch on Friday recommended that United Nations Security Council imposes arms restrictions on South Sudan as soon as possible to avoid more horrific atrocities against civilians.
Rights Watch South Sudan and Sudan Researcher Skye Wheeler told CRN that they documented several war crimes and crimes against humanity across the country in Juba, Bor, Malakal and Bentiu, describing them ‘horrific’.
She said none of the warring parties showed political will to address the abuses.
Ms Wheeler warned that more guns in South Sudan would worsen attacks and abuses against civilians if the Council does not act now by imposing arms embargo.
The Rights Watch also recommended the UN Security Council to impose strong individual sanctions against perpetrators of the most serious human rights abuses to teach them and others lessons that inhumanity is unacceptable in the world.
Ms Wheeler said Security Council sanctions would be more impacting than those of African Union, United States and European Union.
The Researcher urged the Security Council and South Sudanese to ensure any peace agreement does not compromise amnesty for most serious human rights violators.
She observed that atrocities occur in the current conflict because of lack of accountability, justice and impunity on previous ones in the 21 years’ civil war.
The Rights Watch recommendation followed reports of UN Security Council delegates’ visiting South Sudan next week to assess the crisis situation in the country.
The Researcher hopes the visit will bring imposition of arms embargo and individual sanctions for perpetrators of inhumane war crimes.