South Sudan expels UN human rights officer

JUBA, South Sudan – The United Nations mission in South Sudan says a U.N. human rights officer has been forced to leave the country

In a statement Sunday, U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary General for South Sudan Hilde Johnson said she wrote the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 25 asking for clarification on the decision. The U.N. mission was informed of the expulsion nearly two weeks ago by the ministry. Johnson said she also met with President Salva Kiir on Sunday but that "in spite of the mission's efforts, the order has not been rescinded." Foreign Affairs spokesman Wol Mayar Ariech refused to say why the person was expelled.

The South Sudan army's has been accused of human rights abuses in Jonglei state, where deadly ethnic clashes erupted.