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South Sudan Expels U.N. Rights Officer South Sudan Expels U.N. Rights Officer
(35 minutes later)
KAMPALA, Uganda – South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan last year after decades of civil war, has expelled a United Nations human rights officer after the government objected to a report raising allegations of atrocities by South Sudan’s army, the U.N. said on Sunday. KAMPALA, Uganda — South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan last year after decades of civil war, has expelled a United Nations human rights officer after the government objected to a report raising allegations of atrocities by South Sudan’s army, the organization said on Sunday.
Hilde F. Johnson, head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan, described the expulsion as a “breach of legal obligations” and called on South Sudan’s government for “clarification.” Hilde F. Johnson, head of the United Nations mission in South Sudan, described the expulsion as a “breach of legal obligations” and asked South Sudan’s government for “clarification.”
Human rights monitoring “must be protected,” Ms. Johnson said in the statement. “Human rights violations and discrimination were at the core of the South Sudanese struggle during decades of civil war.” Human rights monitoring “must be protected,” Ms. Johnson said in a statement. “Human rights violations and discrimination were at the core of the South Sudanese struggle during decades of civil war.”
The report, published by the United Nations in June, accused South Sudan’s military of widespread abuses while attempting to disarm civilians in South Sudan’s Jonglei state after a surge of tribal violence. South Sudan condemned the report as one-sided. The report, published by the United Nations in June, accused South Sudan’s military of widespread abuses while trying to disarm civilians in South Sudan’s Jonglei State after a surge of tribal violence. South Sudan condemned the report as one-sided.
According to the U.N. statement on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry recently gave one of its human rights officers 48 hours to leave the country. According to the United Nations statement on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry recently gave one of its human rights officers 48 hours to leave the country.
The officer, identified by sources as Sandra Beidas, is now in Entebbe, Uganda, according to the statement, “pending a decision on her future status.”The officer, identified by sources as Sandra Beidas, is now in Entebbe, Uganda, according to the statement, “pending a decision on her future status.”
“This expulsion raises serious concerns,” said Jehanne Henry, a researcher for Human Rights Watch in the region, “and we hope it does not represent a step backward for human rights in South Sudan.”“This expulsion raises serious concerns,” said Jehanne Henry, a researcher for Human Rights Watch in the region, “and we hope it does not represent a step backward for human rights in South Sudan.”
“With so many challenges ahead, South Sudan needs to make sure it upholds and protects civil and political rights,” Ms. Henry said.“With so many challenges ahead, South Sudan needs to make sure it upholds and protects civil and political rights,” Ms. Henry said.
Officials from South Sudan’s Information Ministry and the president’s office could not be reached for comment.Officials from South Sudan’s Information Ministry and the president’s office could not be reached for comment.
Talks over Ms. Beidas had gone all the way to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, the statement said, but “the order has not been rescinded.”Talks over Ms. Beidas had gone all the way to South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, the statement said, but “the order has not been rescinded.”
For decades, South Sudan was the scene of a brutal civil war and tribal fighting. The United States helped broker a peace deal that led to independence. Since then, the United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the country and has even considered sending Peace Corps volunteers.For decades, South Sudan was the scene of a brutal civil war and tribal fighting. The United States helped broker a peace deal that led to independence. Since then, the United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the country and has even considered sending Peace Corps volunteers.
But the generations of civil war have left a legacy of abuse.But the generations of civil war have left a legacy of abuse.
Last year, the South Sudanese police beat up a U.N. human rights official and last week they opened fire on secondary school students, according to Reuters. Last year, the South Sudanese police beat up a United Nations human rights official, and last week they opened fire on secondary school students, according to Reuters.
South Sudan’s security forces – a patchwork of national soldiers, local militia, intelligence officers and police troops – have been accused of abuses as the government attempts to consolidate control over South Sudan’s vast expanse of territory. South Sudan’s security forces — a patchwork of national soldiers, local militiamen, intelligence officers and police troops — have been accused of abuses as the government tries to consolidate control over South Sudan’s vast expanse of territory.