29 October 2025
Addressing the UN
General Assembly, the Commission
on Human Rights in South Sudanhighlighted escalating
armed clashes, political detentions, and widespread human
rights violations, calling for coordinated efforts to
safeguard civilians and uphold
justice.
“South Sudan’s political
transition is falling apart,” Commissioner
Barney Afako told the Assembly. “The ceasefire is not
holding, political detentions have become a tool of
repression, the peace agreement’s key provisions are being
systematically violated, and the Government forces are using
aerial bombardments in civilian areas. All
indicators point to a slide back toward another deadly
war.”
Fighting
intensifies
The Commission noted that
fighting has intensified since March, displacing over
370,000 civilians internally and driving many more to
neighbouring countries.
Across South Sudan, nearly 2.6
million people remain displaced, in addition to some 600,000
refugees, mostly from Sudan.
“The suffering of South
Sudan’s people is not collateral damage – it is the
direct consequence of political failure,” said commission
chair, Yasmin Sooka.
“Once again, civilians
are being bombarded, women are being raped, children are
being displaced and forcefully recruited into combat
roles, and entire communities are living in fear
– all of this is a tragic repetition of South Sudan’s
painful past. This war on the people of South Sudan is
man-made and preventable.”
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Investigators highlighted
the growing complexity of the conflict, with political power
struggles intertwined with ethnic tensions and local
grievances.
Government reshuffles and partisan
appointments have deepened mistrust between signatories to
the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, while localised
fighting is being exploited for political and military
gain.
Billions extracted, ‘while the
population starves’
Commissioner Carlos
Castresana Fernández linked the crisis to corruption:
“Billions in oil revenues have been siphoned off
while the population starves. Hospitals have no
medicines, schools have no teachers, and soldiers go unpaid
while elites enrich themselves through opaque contracts and
off-budget deals. Corruption is not a side effect of the
conflict — it is one of its engines,” he said.
The
Commission’s report also details ongoing sexual violence,
forced recruitment of children, and extrajudicial killings,
with national authorities complicit in some
cases.
Rule of law institutions remain underfunded and
promises to reform detention powers have largely gone
unfulfilled.
The investigators called on the UN,
African Union, and regional partners to ensure
accountability, expedite the establishment of the Hybrid
Court for South Sudan, and engage the political class in an
inclusive process.
Handshakes not
enough
“Peace will not come through
words or handshakes,” Sooka said. “It will come
through concrete actions — ending impunity, protecting
civilians, and building institutions that serve people, not
power. Justice and accountability must not remain deferred
promises. The international community must move beyond
expressions of concern to concrete, coordinated action.
Otherwise, the suffering will only intensify.”
The
Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, established by
the UN Human
Rights Council in 2016, is an independent body tasked
with investigating human rights violations in the country.
Its mandate has been renewed annually, and its members serve
without receiving any
salary.
