News

“Hate speech, targeted killings, rapes, torture, attacks on ethnic basis are all the ingredients leading to genocide in South Sudan” – said Permanent Representative of Lithuania Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, delivering a statement in the United Nations Security Council open briefing on situation in South Sudan.

Ambassador noted that both the government and the armed opposition must investigate the horrendous crimes that have been committed, and perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted with full respect for internationally recognised standards.  “Without accountability, there is nothing to deter others from committing similar summary executions and mass killings,”. – said Lithuania’s representative.

Ambassador Murmokaitė expressed her disappointment with warring leaders continuing to place the interests of their country and people above those of their own. She referred to the risk of the one of the worst famine and people starving to death if violence persists. The ambassador stressed that if the fighting continues, if the unwillingness of the political leaders to address the mass killings that have been committed persists, the Security Council must use the tools available, including targeted sanctions and referral of situation in South Sudan to the ICC. She also commended efforts of UNMISS and called for the Government to stop the harassment of the UN mission and its staff.

The briefing was organized after the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the Special Envoy for the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng visited South Sudan in response to the Security Council’s and the Secretary General’s request. Both Ms. Pillay and Mr. Dieng warned the Security Council that unless immediate measures to end violence are taken, the situation in South Sudan could spiral out of control. There are some elements that could be categorized as risk factors of genocide.

Full text of the statement available here