On February 28, 2025, Human Rights Watch addressed the UN Human Rights Council regarding the critical human rights conditions in South Sudan. Ongoing violence and government inaction lead to severe abuses, including forced displacements and unlawful killings. The delay in implementing a Hybrid Court as part of the peace agreement hampers accountability efforts, necessitating urgent international intervention and oversight to protect civilians and uphold human rights.
Human Rights Watch expressed gratitude to the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan during an interactive dialogue at the UN Human Rights Council on February 28, 2025. The organization emphasized that South Sudan is at a critical juncture as it enters another lengthy transitional phase marked by ongoing violence and instability. Clashes among government forces, armed opposition factions, and various militias in regions such as Western Equatoria and Nasir have caused forced displacements, unlawful killings, and other serious human rights violations. The responsibility for protecting civilians largely rests with the government, which has been failing in this regard.
Despite the recent passage of key transitional justice legislation by South Sudan’s Parliament, delays in establishing the Hybrid Court—a crucial element of the Revitalized Peace Agreement with the African Union—are undermining accountability efforts. The ongoing deterioration of civic space poses additional challenges, as the National Security Service operates without judicial oversight and employs expansive powers to violate fundamental rights. For instance, the arbitrary detention of Emmanuel Monychol, the editor-in-chief of the Dawn newspaper since December 2024, exemplifies the troubling trend of repression in South Sudan.
The Commission highlighted that the sluggish implementation of the fragile peace deal has perpetuated a culture of impunity, which in turn contributes to ongoing human rights abuses. In light of the gravity of the situation, robust international action prioritizing human rights and accountability is urgently needed. It is essential for the Council to sustain its oversight of the situation and to extend the mandate of the Commission for an additional two years to enhance accountability efforts.
In conclusion, the report presented by Human Rights Watch at the UN underscores the dire human rights situation in South Sudan amid ongoing violence and governmental negligence. The lack of accountability mechanisms, particularly the delayed establishment of the Hybrid Court, exacerbates the culture of impunity. Immediate and sustained international attention and action are crucial to safeguard human rights and foster a stable and just environment in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
