South Sudan – An international call for political calm with renewed fighting in Jonglei

The committee called for immediate calm and the cessation of hostilities in civilian-populated areas, including air strikes, ground attacks and military operations. It urged an immediate return to the paths, obligations and guarantees of the peace agreement.

The committee warned in a statement issued on Sunday that the deliberate sabotage of the revitalized peace agreement of 2018, and the resulting deterioration, led to renewed conflict, with dire consequences for the lives of civilians and the stability of the country and the broader region.

She pointed out that the indiscriminate aerial bombardments, ground fighting, and obstruction of humanitarian access reflect a brutal pattern that the committee has repeatedly documented, and indicate an almost complete disregard for the safety and well-being of citizens and communities.

Direct and indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population

As the political stalemate continues, the past few weeks have witnessed an escalation in hostilities in Jonglei State, including direct and indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population, and reports of the mobilization of armed civilian militias. The already deteriorating humanitarian and human rights crisis is exacerbated by the blatant disregard for the protection granted to civilians under international law, according to the UN committee.

Humanitarian partners estimate that more than 100,000 people, mostly women, girls, older people and people with disabilities, have been forcibly displaced across the state since late December 2025, many of whom have fled without shelter, food or medical care.

Protecting civilians is not an option

Yasmine Sooka, Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission in South Sudan, said: “Protecting civilians is not an option, but a binding legal obligation on the government. Renewed air strikes in civilian areas, coupled with restrictions on humanitarian access by parties to the conflict… once again put lives in imminent danger, while systematically undermining the peace agreement and exposing civilians to fear, displacement and death. These actions are unlawful and must stop immediately: humanitarian workers must be allowed safe passage to reach those most in need.”

The South Sudan Human Rights Commission* is an independent body mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Committee was first established in March 2016, and its mandate has been renewed annually since then. The members of the Committee are appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council; They are not United Nations staff and do not receive a salary for their work as members of the Committee. Committee members receive support from a secretariat based in Juba, South Sudan.