South Sudan: Reports of burial sites highlight hidden cost of renewed violence, UN Commission calls for proper handling and investigation

Country: South Sudan Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Please refer to the attached file. JUBA/GENEVA – The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan today expressed grave concern over reports that bodies have been discovered in Jonglei State during recent road works, warning that the true human cost of the country’s renewed violence may be significantly greater than currently known. Initial information suggests that the remains may be those of combatants killed during earlier incidents of fighting, although the circumstances surrounding their deaths and burial remain unclear. At this stage, it cannot be excluded that these sites may also contain civilians or individuals killed in circumstances that could amount to serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The reports emerge amid renewed conflict in the country, including intense fighting around Akobo in recent days, where control of territory has reportedly shifted between South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and SPLA-IO elements. “These reports are deeply troubling. The discovery of human remains in a conflict-affected area is always a matter of serious concern, ” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. “While the facts are still emerging, it is essential that these sites are handled with care and in accordance with internationally recognized legal and forensic standards to establish the truth about what occurred. The possibility that victims may be buried in unmarked sites points to an even more disturbing reality — one in which the full extent of suffering is being hidden, and potentially where unlawful killings or enforced disappearances have not been accounted for. ” The Commission stressed that any such sites must be secured and preserved for independent, impartial, and professional investigation, including appropriate forensic examination, in line with international standards, including the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death. “Proper handling of burial sites is critical not only for establishing accountability, but also for preserving forensic evidence, ” said Commissioner Barney Afako. “Failure to follow due process risks losing vital information about the circumstances in which these individuals died, including evidence relevant to individual criminal responsibility and potential command responsibility. When conflict intensifies in this way, with limited transparency and weak accountability, there is a real risk that serious violations are occurring beyond public view. This is precisely the moment for urgent political intervention to prevent further violations and ensure compliance with the peace agreement and international law. ” The Commission warned that the resumption of hostilities reflects a broader breakdown of the peace agreement and a return to patterns of violence that have historically led to serious and widespread violations, including mass atrocities. The Commission also emphasized that the discovery of burial sites linked to conflict raises serious concerns under international humanitarian and human rights law and requires prompt, effective, independent and impartial investigation, consistent with States’ obligations to investigate potentially unlawful deaths. It underscored the rights of families to know the fate of their relatives and to have their dignity respected. “Families have the right to know the fate and whereabouts of their relatives, and to have their remains treated with dignity, ” said Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández. “These are not discretionary obligations but binding legal duties under international law. All efforts must be made to ensure that remains are identified where possible and that investigations are conducted transparently and in accordance with international law. It will be essential to secure the sites, conduct proper forensic investigations, and ensure that those responsible are identified and held accountable, including those who may bear superior or command responsibility. Failure to do so risks entrenching impunity. ” The Commission called on the relevant authorities to ensure that proper procedures are followed and to facilitate any necessary independent verification, including by granting access to competent investigative bodies and international experts where required. ENDS Background: The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. First established in March 2016, it has been renewed annually since. The commissioners were appointed by the President of the UN Human Rights Council; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work as Commissioners. They are supported by a Secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan. More information about the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan can be found here. Follow the Commission on X (formerly Twitter) here, on Facebook here, and on YouTube here. For media queries, please contact: In Juba: Rajeev PS, Public Information Officer/Media Adviser, rajeev. puthenpurackalsunilkumar@un. org / +211912174078; in Geneva: Todd Pitman, Media Adviser for the UN Human Rights Council’s Investigative Bodies, todd. pitman@un. org / +41766911761.

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