OSINT sources have reported the increased atrocities that have accompanied the prolonged civil conflict between the Africa’s youngest nation and the rebel block in the country.
Situation in South Sudan:
- Intense brutality: The level of atrocities against civilians in South Sudan has escalated into rape and brutal killings. Intelligence gathered indicates fighters in the war torn country are kidnapping girls in broad daylight, raping them and burning them alive.
- Outbreak of diseases: Intelligence gathered indicates that Aid agencies have fled the war torn country to their own countries. Fighters have attacked indiscriminately, also targeting the Aid bodies including the Red Cross and the United Nations.
- Child Soldiers: Child soldiers recruited are aged between 13 and 17 years. Children agencies estimate that there are at least 13,000 child soldiers fighting in the country.
- Brutal coercion: Civilians are exposed to all kinds of brutality by fighters who crave for information. Children are also indoctrinated into fighting on coercion.
Implications of the crisis:
As fighting in Sudan hits surge, refugees are fleeing the war torn country to the neighboring countries including Kenya. This comes at a time that Kenya is dealing with the refugee crisis as one of the factors driving terrorism.
The fighting is also likely to cause more rifts and thwart any advances towards talks in South Sudan that would otherwise settle the civil crisis.
