South Sudan: UN chief launching special investigation into July hotel attack

Alarmed by preliminary findings on the 11 July attack on a hotel in Juba, South Sudan, in which one person was killed and several civilians were raped and beaten by men in uniform, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to launch an independent special investigation to examine this and other incidents and evaluate the overall response by the UN mission there.

According to a statement issued last night by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, the Secretary-General is alarmed by the preliminary findings of a UN fact-finding investigation into the attack on Hotel Terrain in the nation's capital, and concerned about allegations that UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) did not respond appropriately to prevent this and other grave cases of sexual violence committed in Juba.

The statement said that the Secretary-General has decided to launch the special investigation “due to the gravity of these incidents, related allegations and the preliminary findings by UNMISS.”

Also in the statement, the UN chief reiterated his outrage over the acts of violence committed by the government and opposition forces in Juba from 8 to 11 July, during which many South Sudanese civilians and two UN peacekeepers were killed.

“The Secretary-General urges, once more, the Government of South Sudan to investigate these human right violations and to prosecute those involved in these unspeakable acts of violence,” the statement said.