Human Rights Watch has called upon the UN Human Rights Council to appoint a special rapporteur to ‘monitor and document violations and promote justice’ in South Sudan.

It says the human rights situation in South Sudan is currently before the council for discussion.

Human Rights Watch says conflict and abuses against civilians have continued to spread in South Sudan despite a peace agreement signed in August last year.

It cited a worsening insecurity in the former Western Equatoria State, where it says civilians have been attacked and displaced from their homes.

The group also referred to the clash at the UN base in Malakal, in which at least 25 people were killed, according to UN figures.

In a statement, the director at Human Rights Watch in Geneva, John Fisher, says the situation in South Sudan calls for urgent action.

“A UN special rapporteur is needed not just to monitor the ongoing abuses, but also to contribute to justice and accountability,” Mr Fisher said.

It says failure to address what it calls a deep disregard for human life will only lead to a repeat of such violations.

The government has not commented on the latest statement, but previously, it said allegations that its forces violated human rights in Western Equatoria were not true.

Presidential press secretary Ateny Wek Ateny said local armed groups were committing the abuses.