Rising Alarm in Juba
United Nations investigators cautioned the General Assembly that South Sudan’s transitional roadmap is fraying, citing renewed violence, political detentions and airstrikes in civilian zones, trends that Commissioner Barney Afako warned “point to a slide back toward another deadly war.”
Mounting clashes unsettle fragile peace
Field reports from the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan describe intensified combat since March, displacing more than 370,000 people inside the country and forcing still others across porous borders, casting doubt on the durability of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement signed to silence guns.
Human cost behind the numbers
Chair Yasmin Sooka lamented that “women are being raped, children recruited, entire communities bombarded,” underscoring that the suffering is a direct outcome of political paralysis, not happenstance. Nearly 2.6 million South Sudanese remain uprooted at home, alongside roughly 600,000 refugees already sheltering abroad.
Resource wealth and alleged graft
Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández linked spiralling insecurity to corruption, alleging that billions in oil proceeds vanish through opaque contracts while hospitals lack medicines, classrooms lack teachers, and even soldiers go unpaid. He argued that graft has become “one of the engines” driving conflict dynamics.
International community weighs options
The Commission urged the UN, African Union and regional bodies to quicken plans for a Hybrid Court, strengthen civilian protection mandates and engage political elites in an inclusive dialogue. Investigators stressed that mere statements of concern will not suffice without coordinated mechanisms to enforce accountability and deter spoilers.
Urgent pathways forward
Analysts in Juba say credible elections, institution building and transparent resource management remain critical to prevent relapse into war. Yet, as Sooka cautioned, progress hinges on “concrete actions, not handshakes.” Stakeholders face a narrowing window to shield Africa’s newest state from another devastating chapter.