Concern over soldiers occupying civilians’ homes

South Sudanese civilians who fled conflict between 2013 and 2016 are being discouraged from returning home because soldiers are still occupying their houses, peace monitors say.

Lt-Gen Asrat Denero Amad, an Ethiopian army general who heads a ceasefire monitoring team, told members that dozens of civilians’ homes were still occupied by government forces.

He did not indicate the locations of the buildings that were being occupied.

Gen Asrat said occupation of houses by government soldiers was preventing resumption of normal life.

South Sudan defence forces commanders who were present during the forum did not comment on the matter.

Thousands of civilians who fled the violence during the war are still living in some UN-run camps and say they can’t return to their homes.