U.N. Investigating Reports of Massacre in South Sudan

A spokesman for the United Nations, Martin Nesirky, said that the United Nations is investigating reports that 78 people were massacred by armed soldiers in South Sudan. According to Nesirky, locals report that another 68 people were injured, in addition to nine people who are reported missing. There are thousands of people who have been displaced out of their homes.

The United Nations has a team in Warrap State, which is in the Bulich area. The team reports that they have seen 15 bodies that have not yet been buried. The attackers are believed to have been from Unity State’s Mayendit County.

In July of last year, South Sudan became Africa’s youngest country when it seceded from Sudan. This was part of a peace agreement from 2005. The agreement brought an end to a civil war that had been ongoing for decades. However, there are still many disputes between the Khartoum and the south that are not resolved. Oil revenues are one of the main reasons for the current violence, but there are also many groups of rebels and tribes in the region that are continuously battling each other.

There are several humanitarian agencies in the region that will meet to determine what response is necessary. The United Nations human rights team is investigating the massacre and will report to the U.N. about their findings.

Earlier this month, more than 3,000 people were killed in South Sudan in a horrifying massacre. More than 2,100 of the victims were women and children. There were over 1,000 children missing and most are believed to have been kidnapped. In addition, thousands of head of cattle were stolen. The United Nations and army officials in South Sudan are still investigating the violence. It could be one of the worst incidents of ethnic violence that South Sudan has seen.

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