South Sudanese forces dropped improvised incendiary weapons on civilian areas last month, killing nearly 60 people — including children — in Upper Nile State, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.
The rights group said the attacks, carried out between March 16 and 21, targeted several counties in the restive northeastern region, where violence between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar has intensified, threatening the fragile 2018 peace agreement.
“Interviewees described the use of improvised incendiary weapons in at least four attacks in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang counties, Upper Nile State, which killed at least 58 people and burned others severely,” HRW said.
“The government’s use of these weapons in populated areas may amount to war crimes,” the group warned, calling on the United Nations to pressure the South Sudanese government to “cease its unlawful attacks.”
HRW also urged the “urgent deployment of peacekeeping forces” to protect civilians in the affected areas.
South Sudanese authorities did not respond to AFP’s request for comment on the report.
According to HRW, the deadliest attacks occurred between March 16 and 19 in Mathiang village, Longechuk County, where at least 21 people were killed.
Similar airstrikes were reported in Nasir town, where “two officials said that at least 22 people were killed and dozens of homes burned,” HRW said.
On March 21, the village of Kuich in Ulang County was attacked. Witnesses reported seeing a propeller-driven aircraft drop barrels containing incendiary substances.
“That attack left 15 dead, including three children,” HRW reported, citing accounts from local residents. As of March 30, seven people were said to be in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of severely burned victims.
“Their black skin is coming out. One man who died at the hospital was burned even his teeth,” a witness told HRW.
The surge in violence comes amid growing tension in Upper Nile State, where government forces have accused Machar’s loyalists of instigating unrest in collaboration with the White Army — a loosely organised group of armed Nuer youth.
The government has previously admitted conducting airstrikes in the region.
On March 17, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters that the attacks were part of “security operations.”
“If you as a civilian happen to be there… then there is nothing we can do,” he added.
