Escalating Conflict Alarms Observers
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warns that renewed clashes are reaching levels unseen since the 2017 cease-fire, threatening fragile stability across the Horn of Africa.
Civilian communities, according to the Commission’s latest communiqué, face mounting violations and forced displacement as rival forces test the limits of the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Human Toll and Displacement Figures
In 2025 alone, the watchdog estimates 300,000 South Sudanese fled, mostly to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, underscoring the crisis’s widening humanitarian footprint.
Justice Mechanisms Await Activation
Commissioners told African Union officials in Addis Ababa that delays in setting up the Hybrid Court and other chapter-five bodies fuel impunity, corruption and political brinkmanship.
They called the accountability gap a core driver of violence, urging immediate operationalisation to reassure victims and deter spoilers.
Regional Diplomacy Gains Urgency
Meetings with the AU Peace and Security Council, IGAD envoys and diplomats highlighted consensus that only coordinated pressure can steer Juba toward an inclusive transition.
The Commission recommends sustained outreach to armed and political factions outside the accord to fold them into a rights-based dialogue.
Choosing Peace Over Deadlock
Chairperson Yasmin Sooka stated, “Leaders must finally choose their people over personal gain; the region must help them make that choice.”
Analysts say that a credible roadmap, backed by the AU, UN and neighbours, still offers South Sudan a realistic path to stability if implemented without further delay.