Power said in a statement issued Saturday that the delegation observed “chilling” living conditions for civilians trapped in the ongoing conflict between the government and rebel forces. Escalating violence in South Sudan is casting a light on Israel’s murky involvement in that raging conflict, with the government’s use of Israeli arms and surveillance equipment drawing criticism from human rights activists and a lawmaker who are demanding that Israel halt such transfers to the embattled African country.
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United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the armed fighters and civilians crossed into Congo from South Sudan with Machar, who was evacuated from Garamba National Park with his wife, son and 10 aides on August 17.
Heads of organizations that met with the diplomats say they have been ordered to report to the government.
Dujarric said the U.N.is also trying to encourage a solution between authorities in both countries and “regional actors” to the presence in Congo of opposition fighters.
In honouring their promise to look into the violence, the UN-select team led by Major General (ret) Patrick Cammaert of The Netherlands landed in the country on Friday and has started work to “determine whether the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, responded appropriately to prevent and stop these incidents and to protect civilians, within its resources and capabilities at the time”.
The law states that Israel shall not supply weapons to any country under a Security Council arms embargo. According to the report, Israel said it didn’t receive a request from Uganda for the transfer.
“It is not clear from now available information whether this project has proceeded in the intervening period”, they added.
The U.N. panel of experts report obtained by The Associated Press says President Salva Kiir and army chief of staff Paul Malong directed fighting in the capital, Juba, that killed hundreds. He said no investigation was known to have been opened.
The report adds: “This attack was well coordinated and can not be considered as an opportunistic act of violence and robbery”.
The European Union has placed an arms embargo on South Sudan, and following the outbreak of violence, the U.S. imposed sanctions on leading military officials from both sides of the conflict.
The Security Council set up a targeted sanctions regime for South Sudan in March 2015, then in July blacklisted six generals – three from each side of the conflict – by subjecting them to an asset freeze and travel ban.
South Sudan is experiencing severe hyperinflation, and the World Food Program said the price of food spiked by 778 percent after the July fighting.
Tens of thousands of Nuer have taken shelter in United Nations camps in South Sudan under often dire conditions as a peace deal signed a year ago threatens to fall apart amid continued fighting.
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The report also said officials have focused on “mobilising their respective tribes”, which has worsened ethnic tensions.
