A/HRC/40/CRP.1 As noted above,1209 five parties ultimately did not sign the R-ARCSS, including Thomas Cirillo Swaka of the NAS.1210 The non-signature of the R-ARCSS resulted in further splintering within these groups as some disagreed about whether or not to sign and how to proceed in light of the decision, adding ever more players to the already crowded field of the Equatorias.1211 The shifting dynamics and alliances in Central Equatoria in 2018 have contributed to ongoing insecurity in the state and continued harassment of the civilian population including and systematic human rights violations. 2. SPLA Violations Throughout 2018, the SPLA and its allied militias have maintained control of the major towns in Central Equatoria such as Yei, Kajo Keji, Lainya and Morobo, and the main roads that connect them.1212 People trying to exit towns must pass through checkpoints and are often accused by SPLA soldiers of going out into the bush to support the opposition. 1213 For example in Yei, in January 2018, it was observed that “SPLA has a firm grip on the exits/entry of the town. They even have small posts in all small ingress routes which controls the movement of unknown or armed people.”1214 The areas surrounding towns and smaller villages are largely under the control of armed opposition groups.1215 To counter any threat that this may pose, the SPLA has carried out operations around these towns and along the connecting roads.1216 These operations have often included attacks on the civilian population, with the targeting apparently done along ethnic lines and premised on accusations of supporting the armed opposition.1217 The Commission has met with individuals who were victims of attacks by government forces in a variety of locations around Yei River State. Witnesses told the Commission that in Yei River State, after Government forces clashed with the SPLA-IO, SPLA soldiers often retaliate against the local Equatorian population, accusing them of supporting the opposition. 1218 Soldiers stop Bari-speaking men and youths, usually Kakwa or Pojulu, in the street and ask them which tribe they belong to. According to their response, they might be arrested and detained in military barracks, with many being executed during the night. It has been further reported to the Commission that SPLA soldiers who refused to carry out such executions were themselves putting their own lives at risk.1219 One example of such retaliation the Commission that documented occurred in early in 2018, when SPLA forces clashed with SPLA-IO between Limbe and Kenyi on the Lainya– Yei road. After the battle, as the Government forces who had escaped the battle were withdrawing back to their barracks in Kenyi town, they encountered a group of seven young Pojulu men who were returning from delivering their families to the refugee settlements in Uganda. As they approached Kenyi village the SPLA soldiers detained the men who were then taken to a nearby valley called Lamba and executed them. Local villagers were prevented from collecting the bodies as Government troops continued to patrol the road.1220 See above “Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan” section (Section III(D)). Witness 1063, ERN 102249-102253, para. 11. 1211 UN Security Council, Interim Report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2428 (2018), S/2018/1049, November 2018, paras. 34, 35. 1212 UN Security Council, Interim Report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2428 (2018), S/2018/1049, November 2018, para. 28. 1213 Witness 1074, ERN 102296-102299, para. 6; Witness 1078, ERN 102291-102295, para. 5. 1214 Confidential Document, ERN D116653-D116702. 1215 Witness 1073, ERN 102286-102290, para. 8; Witness 1074, ERN 102296-102299, para. 6; Witness 1078, ERN 102291-102295, para. 5; UN Security Council, Interim Report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2428 (2018), S/2018/1049, November 2018, para. 29. 1216 See e.g., CTSAMM Report 2018/15: Reinforcement and fighting in the Kajo Keji area, 9 May 2018; CSTAMM Report 2018/23 Murder and rape in Goli, Central Equatoria state, 7 July 2018. 1217 Witness 1073, ERN 102286-102290, para. 11; Witness 1074, ERN 102296-102299, para. 8; Witness 1078, ERN 102291-102295, para. 5; UN Security Council, Interim Report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2428 (2018), S/2018/1049, November 2018, para. 29. 1218 Witness 1074, ERN 102296-102299, para. 6. 1219 Witness 1050, ERN 102232-102238, para. 11. 1220 Witness 1074, ERN 102296-102299, para. 7. 1209 1210 154