The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, addressing the UN General Assembly, warned that the country is on the brink of renewed conflict as armed clashes escalate, political detentions rise, and human rights violations spread. Commissioner Barney Afako stated that South Sudan’s fragile political transition is “falling apart,” with the ceasefire failing, the peace agreement repeatedly violated, and government forces carrying out airstrikes in civilian areas — all pointing toward a potential return to deadly war.
Since March, fighting has intensified, displacing over 370,000 people within the country and forcing many more to flee abroad. In total, 2.6 million South Sudanese remain internally displaced, alongside about 600,000 refugees, mostly from Sudan. Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka emphasized that the ongoing suffering is not incidental but a direct result of political failures, describing widespread bombings, sexual violence, child recruitment, and mass displacement as a “tragic repetition” of the nation’s past.
The Commission highlighted that political infighting, ethnic divisions, and local grievances are fueling the violence. Power struggles, government reshuffles, and partisan appointments have eroded trust between signatories of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, while local conflicts are being manipulated for political and military advantage.
Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández drew a direct link between corruption and the worsening humanitarian crisis, accusing elites of embezzling billions in oil revenues while citizens suffer. He noted that hospitals lack medicines, schools have no teachers, and soldiers remain unpaid, as corruption continues to drive instability. The report also documents severe human rights abuses, including sexual violence, child soldier recruitment, and extrajudicial killings, with government complicity in some cases.
The Commission urged the UN, African Union, and regional actors to enforce accountability, expedite the creation of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, and promote an inclusive political process. Sooka concluded that symbolic gestures are no longer enough — genuine peace depends on ending impunity, protecting civilians, and building institutions that serve the public rather than entrenched power. She called on the international community to act decisively before the crisis deepens further.
