CHILD SOLDIERS, DESTRUCTION AND DEATH: SUDAN'S CIVIL WAR
South Sudan is the human rights crisis no one is talking about. Fighting is continuing in
many parts of the country, even if this is being ignored by the international media
by Lily Masoud
Reading the news headlines nowadays, one would think that the war in Sudan has ended. With most of the camera lenses and attention shifting to Syria and Gaza, little indication is made that children are being forced to watch their mothers being raped and killed in South Sudan. Recently, a United Nations investigation has identified more than 40 South Sudanese military officers who may be guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from neighbouring Sudan in 2011, but fell into civil war in December 2013. Post-independence, conflict between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar who previously were allies in the struggle to attain freedom, has further damaged South Sudan. Over 4 million people, a third of the population, have been uprooted by violence – so why is #SaveSudan not trending?
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The UN’s February report writes about what it calls “appalling instances of cruelty against civilians who have had their eyes gouged out, their throats slit or been castrated” and “children have been recruited by all sides in the conflict and forced to kill civilians”. These instances of violence ensued during five major battles amongst government troops and rebels in 2016 and 2017.
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People are dying an no one is talking about them. Maybe it’s just too damning and too pricey to care. Even Bishop Lodu of Yei has pleaded with the world to see the South Sudanese as humans. While the media’s spotlight has moved on, the suffering is ongoing - when will the international community start paying attention to this human rights crisis?
DONATE HERE FOR SUDAN'S FAMINE CRISIS DUE TO THE CONFLICT
