South Sudan denies allegations of ethnic cleansing

A spokesman for the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) on Friday refuted allegations of an ongoing ethnic cleansing in Juba and a planned military offensive against civilians in the Central Equatoria State.

Lul Ruai Koang termed the allegations by UN human rights experts and U.S. envoy to the Human Rights Council as baseless, claiming that government troops are only engaging opposition fighters across the country to restore rule of law.

"This is baseless accusation tailored by anti-peace elements who are always trying to divide the people of South Sudan in order to achieve their personal political interests," Koang told reporters in Juba.

Koang further said fresh clashes between government troops and forces loyal to ousted deputy president Riek Machar killed at least 11 people in northern South Sudan since Nov. 25.

Keith Harper, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, on Wednesday said the South Sudanese government organized a militia of 4,000 to launch attacks within weeks.

UN human experts warned on Wednesday that there is steady ethnic cleansing in South Sudan amid deepening ethnic divisions and renewed armed forces recruitment in areas that had enjoyed relative peace before the July violence.

A new round of violence flared in South Sudan in July after fighting broke out between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and former first vice president Riek Machar, causing hundreds of deaths and massive displacement into neighboring countries. Endit