HRLHA Urgent Action and Appeal
January 6, 2014
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa (HRLHA) expresses its deep concern about the safety of civilians in South Sudan who have been trapped in the conflict zone between the government troops and the opposition group militia- led by former Vice president Riek Machar- since mid- December 2013. The original conflict broke out between President Salva Kiir’s SPLA government forces and rebels loyal to former vice president Riek Machar around the strategically located town of Bor on December 15, 2013; it quickly spread out from Bor to the north to Unity State and south to the Central Equatoria State where the capital city, Juba is located.
Map of states of South Sudan
Since the conflict began twenty days ago, more than 1000 civilians have been killed and more than 300000 displaced according to reports by HRLHA’s informants in Juba. Social services and basic necessity supplies for communities are almost paralyzed while tribal tensions and localized conflicts are on the rise
The Human Rights League of the Horn of Africa calls upon the United Nations (UN) , African Unity (AU) and sub-regional organizations to work together to halt the current crisis and rescue the youngest country before it escalates into an uncontrollable civil war. The HRLHA also calls upon the two opponents to resume immediate direct talks to resolve their differences thorough negotiation
