Human Rights Watch report on Juba arrests
South Sudanese security forces have carried out wide-scale arrests of boys, young men and women in Juba since late June 2025, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Wednesday. The organization alleges detainees faced torture, extortion and forced conscription while held in custody.
Anti-gang operation cited as the official rationale
Human Rights Watch said the arrests were presented as part of a crackdown on criminal gangs amid reports of rising youth violence in the capital. The group reported that, in at least one raid, police officers beat and raped women in custody.
Direct allegations and calls for accountability
“Security forces have arbitrarily detained, extorted and forcibly conscripted dozens of boys and young men, and raped young women,” said Nyagoah Tut Pur, a South Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch. She urged authorities to release unlawfully held detainees and to hold perpetrators accountable.
Methodology and requests for official comment
Human Rights Watch said it conducted remote interviews from Aug. 7 to Nov. 23 with 37 people, including victims, relatives, civil society activists and United Nations child protection experts. Three interviewees were children. The group said it wrote to police and military spokespersons on Dec. 10 but received no response.
Context: youth violence, poverty and public outrage
Youth violence and gang activity have increased in South Sudan over the past decade, which the report links to poverty, unemployment, displacement and prolonged conflict. In mid-June 2025, a video circulating on social media showed the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Juba, sparking public outrage.
Joint security operations across Juba neighborhoods
Soon after the video circulated, the National Police Service, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the National Security Service launched joint operations in residential areas of the capital, Human Rights Watch said. Authorities initially described a seven-day campaign beginning in early July, but witnesses told the group arrests continued through the end of 2025.
Arrest numbers, seizures, and prosecutions in question
By early July, authorities said at least 600 suspected gang members had been arrested. In October, police announced 32 alleged criminals were detained and weapons seized, saying criminal proceedings would follow. Human Rights Watch said it could not verify prosecutions beyond the gang rape case, where 13 suspects were arrested and seven charged.
Detention conditions and alleged abuse in custody
According to the report, boys and young men were frequently targeted while walking or gathering in groups. Detainees described beatings in police stations and military facilities, overcrowded cells, and limited access to food and water during detention.
Extortion claims and transfers to military camps
Several former detainees told Human Rights Watch they were freed only after relatives paid money or provided goods to security personnel. Others said they were moved to military camps in Upper Nile state, where fighting has intensified since early 2025. The organization alleged some were forced into combat roles, while others performed labor for soldiers.
Missing detainees and information withheld
At least four families told Human Rights Watch their relatives detained by security forces remain missing. The group said authorities have refused to disclose the whereabouts of those detainees, raising concerns about enforced disappearance.
Authorities’ denials and competing explanations
Police authorities denied forced conscription allegations in comments to local media in August, saying the operation targeted criminals. They also said some detainees were moved outside Juba due to overcrowding. Human Rights Watch said it could not independently confirm that explanation.
Legal standards and monitoring demands
Human Rights Watch noted South Sudanese law and international treaties ratified by the country prohibit arbitrary detention, torture, sexual violence and the recruitment of children. It cited the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which says detention of minors should be a last resort.
Recommendations for government and partners
Human Rights Watch urged the government to end arbitrary arrests, investigate abuse allegations, disclose the whereabouts of missing detainees and allow independent monitors access to military barracks. The group also called on international partners to condition support for South Sudan’s security forces on respect for human rights.
“Instead of addressing crime, security forces have used this campaign to commit serious abuses against marginalized youth,” Pur said.