By Kei Emmanuel Duku
A new report paints a grim picture of the country’s human rights situation, revealing a surge of about 40 cases of sexual violence, in the last three months.
The revelation comes from United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) report which linked the cases to conflicts in the country.
The report also noted a rise in abductions, with 149 cases recorded, up from 129 in the previous quarter.
The report highlights a sharp rise in child victims, increasing from 114 to 171. Women and girls continue to be affected by conflict related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence, accounting for 98% of documented victims in these categories during the first quarter of this year.
Overall, violence against civilians escalated to unprecedented levels nationwide. The UNMISS report documented 1,607 victims in the first quarter of 2025, marking the highest number recorded in any three-month period since 2020.
Compared to the previous quarter (October to December 2024), the first quarter of 2025 saw an 86% increase in total victims, rising from 866 to 1,607. Fatalities surged by 110%, from 352 to 739, while injuries increased by 94%, from 350 to 679.
Year-on-year, the first quarter of 2025 represents a 76% increase in victims compared to the same period in 2024 (913 to 1,607). Killings rose by 58% (468 to 739), and injuries by 107% (328 to 679).
Warrap State was the worst-affected, registering the highest number of civilian casualties with 428 deaths and 298 injuries. Central Equatoria followed, experiencing a 260% increase in victims and the highest number of abductions.
The report noted that 66% of the documented cases were attributed to community-based militias or civil defense groups, while unidentified, opportunistic armed elements were responsible for 22% of the casualties. Conventional parties to the armed conflict and other armed groups accounted for 15% of victims, marking a concerning 27% increase from the previous quarter (152 to 193).
UNMISS states that the escalation of armed confrontations involving these groups severely undermined civilian protection, resulting in violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
“It is the primary responsibility of the Government to protect civilians and prevent conflicts, which continue to cause immense harm to communities across the country,” said Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UNMISS. “Together with regional and international partners, UNMISS calls for concerted, collective efforts at the national, state, and local levels to address the underlying causes and drivers, facilitate the resolution of grievances through dialogue, and hold perpetrators accountable in order to end the deadly cycle of violence.”
Despite the surge in violence, the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission reiterated its commitment to protect civilians and deter violence through thousands of peacekeeping patrols operating by land, air, and river each year. UNMISS also facilitates locally led reconciliation and peacebuilding initiatives, strengthens rule of law institutions, extends their reach through mobile courts to far-flung areas, and helps advance broader political and peace processes in the country, while emphasizing the critical need for accountability and justice for human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.