The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has called on the country’s political leaders to take action against impunity and corruption or risk undermining the country’s political transition. In its latest report, the commission highlighted that its 2024 investigations revealed persistent patterns of serious human rights violations, often involving the same public and military officials.
The report said sexual violence remains widespread both in and outside the conflict, with authorities continuing to support extrajudicial killings. In addition, forced recruitment and trafficking of children for war or sexual slavery continue. Commission Chair Yamin Sooka railed against the leaders’ failure to deliver on their peace commitments, accusing them of engaging in violent political struggles that harm the people of South Sudan.
Based on independent investigations, evidence from authorities and judicial data, the report detailed the situation in Tambura, western Equatoria, where ethnic violence by armed forces and militias has deepened divisions left by the 2021 conflict. Despite their involvement in such violence, local and national elites continue to hold public and military positions without facing accountability.
The report also highlighted the problem of conflict-related sexual violence, where survivors reported a lack of access to essential healthcare. It highlighted the continued impunity of perpetrators. Commissioner Barney Afako linked the recurrence of these violations to widespread impunity and poor governance, further hindering South Sudan’s development.
The report also examined the “Green Book” law introduced in Warrap, which provides legal sanctions for extrajudicial killings related to cattle raids and communal violence. The commission said that this law has reinforced lawlessness and further fuelled tensions, with senior officials selectively applying it to prosecute certain groups.
The Commission’s recent visit to South Sudan included meetings with human rights victims, with Sooka highlighting concerns about the lack of political will from civil society and international partners to break the cycle of violence and the neglect of vital institutions such as courts and schools. The Commission has been monitoring the human rights situation in South Sudan since its establishment in 2016.