The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said
the surge in violence in Upper Nile State, escalating political tensions in
Juba, and other political intrigues are threatening to derail South Sudan’s
Revitalized Peace Agreement and inflict more pain and suffering on citizens.
According to the commission, the armed confrontations in Nasir, including the criminal attack on a UN aircraft, which resulted in tragic fatalities, including the death of UN personnel, must be condemned and are considered a war crime.
They are the consequence of political mismanagement, including prolonged delays in the unification of armed forces, required under the Revitalized Agreement.
In a press release statement extended to The Radio
Community, the commission said the targeting and dismissal of opposition
figureheads, including ministers and governors, combined with military
confrontations, and the mobilization of militia, are adding to the destabilization
and the ensuing violence.
“South Sudan should be moving forward, implementing the provisions of the peace agreement, strengthening institutions, and building a foundation for democracy,” said Yasmin Sooka, chairperson.
“Instead, we are witnessing an alarming regression
that could erase years of hard-won progress. Rather than fueling division and
conflict, leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human
rights of South Sudanese citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to
democracy,” she added.
Commissioner Barney Afako said, “What
we are witnessing now is a return to the reckless power struggles that have
devastated the country in the past.”
Barney stressed that the citizens have suffered enough; they have endured atrocities, rights violations which amount to serious crimes, economic mismanagement, and ever-worsening security.
“They deserve respite and peace, not another cycle of war.”
The commission reminds all parties to the
Revitalized Agreement, as well as other South Sudanese stakeholders, of their
obligations and responsibilities to respect human rights and to invest in
completing the transitional processes.
These include constitutional reforms, the establishment of the Truth Commission, the Reparation Authority, and the Hybrid Court—critical mechanisms intended to address the root causes of conflict and break the recurring cycles of political crises and human rights violations.
“It is time for leaders to act
responsibly. South Sudan must continue to move forward with the
transition—towards stability, democracy, and lasting peace—otherwise the
country will backslide into chaos. The tension in Upper Nile must be resolved
through dialogue, not through armed confrontation that will destabilize the
entire nation and the region. The current trajectory of instability,
repression, and renewed conflict must not be allowed to continue,” said
Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández.
South Sudanese are deeply fearful and desperate for peace and now look to regional and international actors—particularly neighboring states and other guarantors of the Peace Agreement—to urgently re-engage with South Sudan’s leaders, de-escalate the violence, recommit to dialogue and compromise, and ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire and the completion of the transition.
