The Minister of Justice has denied reports that children were raped, killed and recruited into the army in Unity State over the last two weeks.

On Monday, UNICEF said armed forces took girls and women outside to be raped and killed while others set villages ablaze.

It said at least 19 boys, some as young as 10 years of age, and seven girls, were killed.

However, Mr Paulino Wanawila says there is no evidence to prove the claims. He spoke after a meeting with a US delegation in Juba today.

“UNICEF has not told us who of their people was there and who have witnessed this violations. Who can come out as witnesses? Those are what I call allegations,” he said.

“Allegations cannot be evidence until they are proven to be true. Somebody must come and say ‘I was there. I saw this people – children being killed, women being killed, people being raped’. This is what evidence is all about.”

Unicef said it received the information from eye witnesses. It argued that witness reports suggest that children are suffering as fighting intensifies.

Mr Wanawila added that anybody who violates human rights will be punished.