A/HRC/28/49 III. Overview of alleged human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law A. Extrajudicial killings 22. During the reporting period, while the intensity of fighting decreased, UNMISS continued to receive reports of human rights violations and abuses, including killings of civilians by parties to the conflict. Reports of killings of civilians by SPLM/A in Opposition in Renk county, Upper Nile State, in September 2014, and in Bentiu, Unity State, in October, were particularly alarming. Intercommunal violence has also escalated as a result of the conflict, with serious incidents resulting in the killing of civilians. Besides the tension between SPLA and the opposition forces, the proliferation of armed groups, such as the Maban Defence Force, and the reported resurrection of the White Army, posed additional threats to civilians. 23. In Renk county, Upper Nile State, reports indicated that civilians were allegedly killed by opposition forces in connection with hostilities that took place in September 2014. UNMISS received allegations that up to 83 individuals might have been killed during the attacks, but was unable to confirm the reports owing to security constraints in the area. 24. In Bentiu, Unity State, at least 11 civilians were reportedly killed by opposition forces when they tried to retake control of the city from the Government on 29 October 2014. Reports also indicated that civilians were deliberately targeted because of a perceived association with government forces. In one instance, 14 men were taken from a church, where they had sought sanctuary, and walked to a nearby cemetery, where at least eight of them were shot and killed, two were wounded, while four remained unharmed. In another incident during the attack, two women and a baby were killed in their homes. 25. On 12 December 2014, a group of traders were reportedly attacked by SPLA in Tharwangiyel, Unity State, and several civilians were killed. Preliminary investigations by UNMISS indicated that at least 53 civilians, including women and children, who were travelling along a trade route from the Sudan to villages south of Bentiu, in an SPLAcontrolled area, were attacked during the evening; up to eight civilians were killed, including a woman and a girl, nine were wounded and 15 were detained by SPLA. UNMISS has not been able to verify whether the traders were all civilians or whether there were SPLM/A in Opposition fighters among them. 26. The conflict also appears to have fuelled intercommunal violence, which has resulted in a large number of killings. In Lakes State, the killing of a paramount chief in August 2014 provoked retaliation attacks between Dinka groups that degenerated into a cycle of revenge killings and rape. For example, tensions increased in Cueibet county on 12 September following the ambush and killing of five Dinka Agar persons, reportedly by a rival Dinka Gok clan. 27. In neighbouring Jonglei, two incidents of age-set fighting among the Murle in Gumuruk and Likuangole counties reportedly resulted in the killing of at least four persons in attacks and reprisals. An SPLA presence intended to contain tensions between the Buya and Didinga communities also reportedly caused conflict. UNMISS received reports that on 7 October 2014 in Chukudum, Budi county, in Eastern Equatoria, SPLA soldiers killed at least two civilians and reportedly burned down 47 homes. And in Rumbek Central county, intermittent clashes between a Dinka Agar subclan and security forces which started on 23 October reportedly resulted in approximately 100 deaths. In an incident in Eastern Equatoria on 6 December, 28 people from Lafon county were reportedly killed, including women and children, by unknown armed men from Torit county. 8