“South Sudan is grappling with mounting political instability and deepening humanitarian crises.”

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“Conflict continues to inflict a heavy cost on South Sudan,” said Barney Afako, Member of the Commission on Human Rights in that country, adding that hundreds of thousands have been killed, over 2 million are internally displaced and most of the population requires humanitarian assistance. Civilians have been targeted and traumatized, with women and girls systematically subjected to horrific sexual violence. “Children’s lives are blighted by conflict, predation and neglect,” including through recruitment and abduction, he said, stressing that South Sudan has one of the highest levels of infant mortality and acute malnutrition in the world. Additionally, the war in its neighbouring State — Sudan — has driven another 800,000 people into South Sudan, plunging its economy into deeper crisis. “South Sudanese live under the shadow of repression and surveillance,” he said, adding that National Security Services constantly monitor, harass, target and abduct civil society and perceived opponents, including those outside the country. Concurrently, the media is subjected to censorship and reprisals. The climate of impunity is further exacerbated by the under-resourced justice sector and demoralized police, prosecutors and judicial officers. South Sudan’s leaders failed to implement the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, he warned, urging them to promote a credible constitution-making process, which would provide the basis for the country’s first national elections. They must also “stop the plunder,” which is depriving South Sudanese of their core rights, and instead, promote accountability and recovery by investing in the national justice system, he asserted.”

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