UN warns worsening South Sudan crisis threatens civilians, political transition

Benjamin Takpiny

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned Thursday that renewed violence, rising political tensions, shrinking civic space, entrenched corruption and persistent impunity continue to put civilians and the country’s fragile political transition at serious risk.

Speaking in the capital Juba after the commission concluded its 14th visit to South Sudan, Commission Chairperson Yasmin Sooka said the mission continues to hear accounts of displacement, insecurity, human rights violations and failures by political and security authorities to protect civilians and address abuses.

“Visit after visit, we continue to hear from people who bear the consequences of violence, displacement, insecurity and the failures of those with political and security responsibilities to prevent and address those harms. What troubles us most is that we continue to hear similar stories of suffering – families uprooted from their homes, communities living in fear, women and girls facing serious violations, and people struggling to access even the most basic services. The patterns have changed little, while the human cost continues to grow. South Sudanese people deserve better than to have their lives shaped by recurring cycles of violence and uncertainty,” said Sooka.

Sooka emphasized that South Sudan still has an opportunity to prevent further deterioration through genuine political dialogue, civilian protection and safeguards for a peaceful and credible transition.

Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez noted that for years, “the commission has documented serious violations and identified the same underlying problem: impunity. Too often, those responsible for grave abuses have not been held accountable, while institutions responsible for justice remain weak and under-resourced.”

“One year after our report on corruption, there has been little meaningful implementation of its recommendations, and in some areas, the situation has deteriorated further. When violations go unpunished and public resources are diverted without consequence, impunity becomes entrenched, breeding violence. South Sudan cannot break this cycle without credible accountability, functioning justice institutions, and transparent management of the country’s resources,” said Fernandez.

Commissioner Barney Afako said the political failures of South Sudan’s leaders continue to reproduce the conditions for damaging violence.

“Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has stalled, but its objectives for delivering a transformed, democratic and peaceful South Sudan remain as relevant as ever and must be protected. Even as the country heads for elections, political and civic space has narrowed, while many of the safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible polls are still missing. South Sudanese do have a right to vote; that right must be protected by ensuring they can participate freely, compete fairly, and resolve any electoral disputes through credible adjudication. These are the safeguards that will prevent an election from becoming a trigger for violence and disruption,” said Afako.