UN worried by South Sudan killings

The United Nation Security Council has expressed displeasure with the rampant killings of hundreds of civilians in Bentiu, a town which has some of the largest oil deposits in South Sudan.

According to the UN, a mass violence in the town resulted in the death of more than 200 people on April 14 and April 16, 2014.

In a statement issued in New York by the 15-member council for the month of April, the UN threatened sanctions against those responsible for the continued deadly violence in the country.

“The members of the Security Council indicated their willingness to take additional measures, should attacks on civilians and violations of the (January 23) Cessation of Hostilities Agreement continue,” the statement said.

The council, which was chaired by Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s U.N. Ambassador and the current council president Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, also deplored systematic targeting of civilians, based on their ethnicity and the execution of civilians in a mosque, church, and hospital.

It expressed concern that radio broadcasts had been used to foment hate and sexual violence It also expressed “grave concern” on the growing humanitarian crisis in a UN camp in Bentiu, where more than 23,000 people were seeking shelter.

The UN revealed that in December, no fewer than 1 million people fled their homes when fighting erupted between troops backing President Salva Kiir and soldiers loyal to his sacked deputy, Riek Machar.

The president, on April 24, 2014, issued a decree that removed General James Hoth Mai, the country’s Army Chief from office with immediate effect. No reason was given for the action.

The country has been in turmoil since rebels seized the oil hub of Bentiu earlier in the month.