Human rights groups are urging the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) for at least two more years, given the South Sudanese government’s ongoing violations and failure to implement meaningful reforms.
Although the CHRSS was established in 2016 to monitor human rights conditions in the country, the fundamental problems that led to its creation remain unresolved. Violence continues in many areas, particularly in the Greater Equatoria and the Greater Upper Nile, where civilians are frequently targeted.
The National Security Service (NSS) has been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses. However, in August 2024, President Salva Kiir authorized the passage of a controversial bill that would grant the NSS broad powers of arrest and detention, despite concerns about its constitutionality.
Additionally, impunity for crimes under international law remains widespread. While South Sudanese authorities have blamed the African Union for delays in establishing the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, rights groups say the government itself has failed to prioritize judicial reforms. Amnesty International has expressed concern that authorities could be shielding suspects from prosecution for serious crimes.
As the country navigates a long transition, human rights advocates are calling on South Sudan’s leadership to take concrete steps toward accountability, particularly regarding the establishment of the Hybrid Court and broader justice sector reforms.