The Human Rights Watch has urged the African Union Commission and donors to proceed without delay with preparations for a hybrid court in South Sudan.

According to the peace agreement, the African Union Commission is to set up the court, with South Sudanese and other African judges and staff to try those who commit human rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch says key steps to create the court are to be completed by October 2016, but concrete progress is yet to occur.

It says civilians have been killed, raped and their property looted in 2013 and in the recent conflict.

“A year after South Sudan’s leaders signed a peace deal, civilians are dying, women are being raped, and millions of people are afraid to go home,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“On August 12, the UN decided to send more peacekeepers to Juba but put off a long-overdue arms embargo. The continued supply of arms only helps fuel the abuses on a larger scale.”

The rights group says as a result of indiscriminate attacks, including shooting and shelling, shells landed inside UN bases and other densely populated areas in the city, killing and wounding civilians.

It said South Sudanese authorities should cooperate with the African Union to create the hybrid court.

Human Right Watch also called on the UN and member countries to impose targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on those responsible for serious human rights abuses.

Mr Bekele says the continued supply of arms only helps fuel the abuses on a larger scale.