Secretary-General Launches Special Investigation on Mission Response to Attack, Grave Cases of Sexual Violence in South Sudan

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is alarmed by the preliminary findings of a fact-finding investigation by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) into the attack on Hotel Terrain in Juba on 11 July, in which one person was killed and several civilians were raped and brutally beaten by men in uniform.

The Secretary-General is also concerned about allegations that UNMISS did not respond appropriately to prevent this and other grave cases of sexual violence committed in Juba.  Due to the gravity of these incidents, related allegations and the preliminary findings by UNMISS, the Secretary-General has decided to launch an independent special investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding these incidents and to evaluate the Mission’s overall response.

The Secretary-General reiterates his outrage over the acts of violence committed by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and opposition forces in Juba from 8 to 11 July, during which many South Sudanese civilians and two United Nations peacekeepers were killed.

The Secretary-General urges, once more, the Government of South Sudan to investigate these human right violations and to prosecute those involved in these unspeakable acts of violence.