GENEVA: UN human rights chief Navi Pillay is heading to conflict-torn South Sudan after a wave of mass killings of civilians, her office said on Friday.

“In the wake of the recent killings in Bentiu and Bor in South Sudan, the high commissioner is leaving for Juba,” spokeswoman Cecil Pouilly told reporters, adding that Pillay would arrive on Monday. Pillay will carry out a joint mission with Adama Dieng, the UN’s special envoy for the prevention of genocide.

Pouilly said Pillay and Dieng were being sent to South Sudan by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, as the world body steps up efforts to stem the conflict in the world’s newest country.

The UN Security Council on Thursday brandished the threat of sanctions against South Sudan government forces and rebels responsible for escalating abuses.

Both sides have been implicated in atrocities and war crimes.