Foreign Office Minister condemns continued violence in South Sudan
23 Apr 2014 10:28 AM
FCO Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds condemns
killings in Bentiu and Bor, South Sudan.
Mr
Simmonds said:
I
condemn in the strongest possible terms the killings last week in Bentiu in
South Sudan. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has confirmed
that large numbers of civilians were murdered when opposition forces took
control of the town in what appear to have been ethnically motivated killings.
I also unreservedly condemn the attack on the UNMISS base in Bor last week
which resulted in large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) being
killed and injured, again in an attack that looks to have been ethnically
motivated.
When I was in South Sudan last week, including visiting
the Tom Ping IDP camp in Juba, reports of these attacks were just beginning to
emerge. I called on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities
immediately and end the cycle of violence. I reiterate that call now. The
deliberate killing of civilians and IDPs is a clear violation of international
law and these crimes will be investigated and those responsible held to
account. All inflammatory media statements by those in positions of influence
in South Sudan must also cease. Not only those individuals perpetrating these
atrocities, but those inciting them, will be held accountable.
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