Amnesty International calls on S Sudan to investigate human rights violations

Amnesty International has called on South Sudan to investigate killings and human rights violations by the government in the country.

On Wednesday, the group issued a report saying that the government arrested scores of opposition figures without issuing arrest warrants, and that those arrested were not given the right to have access to lawyers.

“Arrests of perceived opponents of the government continue to be carried out,” the report said.

“Evidence gathered by Amnesty International shows that many of the arrests were arbitrary and contravene provisions in national and international law.”

The arrests were made in the northwestern town of Wau at protests staged in December 2012. Unverified video footage showed state security personnel opening fire on unarmed protesters.

South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, after decades of conflict with the north. The new oil-rich nation is one of the least developed countries in the world, with one in seven children dying before the age of five.