Concerns over rights protections in South Sudan persist

(Vatican Radio) Concerns over the effective protection of basic human and civil rights in South Sudan continue to be raised by the international community. Shortly after achieving independence, the South Sudanese government conducted a controversial disarmament campaign in a bid to ensure that tribal clashes that claimed hundreds of lives in the Jonglei area in January would not flare up again. The government used the army to enforce the policy of confiscating citizens’ weapons. Several rights groups at the time began reporting that elements of the army engaged in killing, rape, beating and torture during the campaign, called “Operation Restore Peace”. At the weekend, The United Nations announced that South Sudan had expelled one of their human rights officers after the UN published a report critical of the conduct of South Sudan's military in connection with the operation. The United Nations says South Sudan is in violation of legal obligations under the membership charter. Listen to our report:

Meanwhile, concerns continue over the implementation of an agreement between Sudan and South Sudan that would allow the South to begin producing oil.

Also at the weekend, South Sudan’s oil minister said his country could resume producing up to 230 thousand barrels per day oil within the month. The resumption would come after a nearly year-long shutdown that has seriously affected the country’s economy. South Sudan ceased its entire output of about 350 barrels per day in January, in a dispute with the government of their northern neighbour, Sudan, over how much the South ought to pay to export oil through Sudan.