South Sudan army burned children alive, massacred civilians - report

South Sudan’s army massacred civilians, burned children alive and gang-raped women after a supposed ceasefire with rebels in December, according to reports by monitors appointed by the country’s East African neighbours on a five-year-old civil war.

South Sudan, which won independence from Sudan in 2011, has denied targeting civilians and called the reports, compiled in the last three months by the Juba-based CTSAMM monitoring group, exaggerated.

The fourteen CTSAMM reports also accuse rebels led by former deputy president Riek Machar of using child soldiers, something a Machar spokesman denied.

The reports have not been publicly released despite pledges by the leaders of South Sudan’s neighbours to name those who violated the December ceasefire and punish them.

CTSAMM released five reports on ceasefire violations within a month of the deal but has withheld its findings on other breaches since February.

SOURCE: africanews
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