Missile launcher mounted

The South Sudan army says it will set up a committee to investigate the alleged killing of civilians by the SPLA at the start of the unrest in Juba on 15th December.

The army also said it will form another committee that will investigate what led to the alleged coup attempt among presidential guards.

On Wednesday, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, said in the past two weeks, there have been killings and brutality, grave human rights violations and atrocities committed.

Ms Johnson said the UN has seen evidence of South Sudanese citizens targeted on ethnic grounds in Juba, Bor, Akobo and Bentiu.

Speaking to journalists in Juba, the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General James Hoth Mai, said the army has arrested rogue soldiers accused of crimes.

‘‘We have criminals who have been there to utilize this situation by trying to loot innocent people and we will continue to capture them every day. We have a good numbers of them in prison,” Mr Hoth said.

Lieutenant General James Hoth also said the SPLA has formed committees to investigate crimes against civilians, and what led to the shooting among presidential guards.

President Salva Kiir has said that the clashes among presidential guards were caused by those loyal to former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

The shooting among the presidential guards led to what the government termed as a coup two and half weeks ago.

Lt. General James Hoth said the two committees will seek to ascertain the root causes of the violence and those responsible for the violations of human rights.

“We formed two committees; a committee that will investigate those who were involved in the killing of innocent people from by the army and others on the organized forces side. We have formed another committee that will investigate the causes of the incident itself, what happened in the Tiger Division.’’

Lieutenant General James Hoth said the army is in full control of Juba and other parts of the country.

The UN and the African Union has condemned the atrocities committed against civilians of different communities by elements from both sides, who are said to have exploited the crisis.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon last week stated that those responsible for any grave human rights violations or crimes against humanity must and will be held accountable.

This applies to all sides of the conflict.