Amnesty Says South Sudan and UN Knew an Abiemnom Attack Was Likely Before More Than 200 Were Killed

On the toll, the figures differ by source. Amnesty puts the number of dead at more than 200. South Sudanese authorities reported at least 213 deaths, made up of 130 residents of the town, 76 members of the security forces and seven foreign nationals, per Al Jazeera's account of the report. Amnesty said it interviewed 82 people, most of them survivors and witnesses spoken to between March and April.

What does Amnesty say the UN mission did wrong?

Amnesty says about 1,000 people sought protection at a temporary base of the UN mission, UNMISS, 48 hours before the attack, and that several killings took place outside the rear gates of that base. It argues the mission and the government had enough warning and time to act. "Their failure to take stronger action cost lives," said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty's East and Southern Africa director.

UNMISS spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury told Al Jazeera that the mission acted with limited resources amid budget cuts, protected about 2,500 people at a site it set up, and repeatedly asked the national army for more forces. It sent 40 more police to Abiemnom after the attack. Amnesty said it received no replies from the authorities or UN offices it contacted before publication, and Al Jazeera said the authorities did not answer two letters.

What is Amnesty asking for?

The group wants a prompt, independent and public investigation, a credible parliamentary inquiry, trials meeting international fair-trial standards, and reparations for survivors and victims' families, including medical, psychosocial and livelihood support. For UNMISS it asks for an independent review of its response before, during and after the attack, with the results published.

Whether either demand is met will show in the next months: the authorities had not answered Amnesty's letters before publication, and we found no announcement of a review by the UN mission. Until there is one, the survivors of Abiemnom are left with the question Amnesty has put on the record.