April 13, 2022 (JUBA)- A coalition of the civil society organisations has urged President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to intervene and end recent renewed clashes pitting rival forces in South Sudan’s Unity State.

The group, in a statement, expressed concerns over fighting which broke out in Leer County between rival forces and other armed groups on April 7.

The clashes led to displacements, loss of lives, abduction, and rape of women and girls in violation of the September 2018 peace agreement.

“We are very concerned by the intensity and gravity of heinous war crimes being committed against the innocent civilians especially children and women in Leer County. We condemn, in the strongest term possible, the atrocities and brutal attack against innocent civilians, which resulted in the killing of civilians including children, women, gang-raping of women and girls, abduction, burning of the entire villages and forced displacement, widespread looting of civilians; properties and hunting of civilian in their hide-out with intentions to kill and rape,” noted the statement.

It added, “These barbaric attacks on innocent lives are amounting to war crimes, gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law”.

According to the civil society groups, the coalition government is solely responsible for protecting the lives of people as well as their properties.

It urged all parties to the conflict to exercise restraint, uphold international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians and aid workers who provide life-saving humanitarian assistance are not targeted during the conflict.

There have been numerous calls for an end to the skirmishes in Unity State.

On Tuesday, the armed opposition chief whip in Parliament, Farouk Gatkuoth the issued had been tabled before the assembly for discussions.

“The situation in Leer is a national security issue to be discussed in parliament. Because of importance of the matter, we joined protesters on Monday and their petition has been given to the leadership,” said the MP.

“The president and the First Vice President are aware”, he stressed.

An estimated more than 75,000 people have been displaced in Leer County and remain in dire need for humanitarian assistance, humanitarian agencies say.