South Sudan Civil War Marked By Killing, Rape

A government soldier mans a vehicle-mounted machine gun in the oil-rich town of Malakal, South Sudan.

A human rights group has evidence of killing, rape and disappearances committed by both sides in South Sudan’s civil war.

Human Rights Watch, an organization that monitors human rights, said serious violations have been committed by both Sudan's army and Sudanese rebels in the East African nation.

The watch group visited Western Equatoria in February. At that time, witnesses reported that soldiers attacked homes. The military also stole property and displaced civilians, said eyewitnesses.

Human Rights Watch has asked for the African Union to establish a court to try the most serious cases of violence. Human Rights Watch and other groups have called for an arms embargo on South Sudan.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the past two years in South Sudan during the civil war. More than two million people have been displaced because of the violence.

I’m Jim Dresbach.

VOANews.com reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.


Words in This Story

committedv. carried out

monitorv. to watch or observe

embargon. a government or organization order that limits trade in some way