The United Nations has raised serious concerns over widespread human rights violations in South Sudan, highlighting the arbitrary arrests and detention of hundreds, including women and children.
In a joint report released Wednesday by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), it was revealed that at least 1,140 civilians, including 87 children, were arbitrarily detained between January 2023 and May 2024.
Those detained included women and girls who had refused arranged marriages, sought divorces, or faced accusations of adultery. Opposition party members and individuals perceived to be their associates were also among the victims of the arbitrary arrests.
The UN criticised the detentions as often being for actions that do not amount to criminal offences.
While both state security forces and armed groups were responsible for these abuses, the majority of arrests were carried out by the government, the report said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on the South Sudanese authorities to release all those unlawfully detained and to hold the perpetrators accountable.
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has faced persistent challenges since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. These include ethnic violence, power struggles, economic instability, and natural disasters.
The political situation remains fraught, with key provisions of a 2018 peace agreement still unimplemented. These include the drafting of a permanent constitution and the unification of rival forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar.
The transitional government recently extended the timeline for implementing the peace deal and delayed elections until December 2026, adding to the country’s political uncertainty.
