A new report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says there has been a marked 60 percent decrease in violent incidents against civilians and a 23 percent decrease in civilian victims in the third quarter of 2022, compared with the same period last year.

According to the Mission, the decrease is generally attributable to the decline in civilian casualties in the Greater Equatoria Region.

“Between July and September 2022, the UNMISS Human Rights Division Brief on Violence Affecting Civilians recorded at least 745 civilians subjected to killing, injury, abduction, and conflict-related sexual violence,” the UNMISS statement read. “By comparison, there were 922 civilian victims in the second quarter of 2022; and 969 in the same period of 2021. Upper Nile and Warrap States were most affected by the violence, accounting for more than half of victims recorded during the reporting period.”

The report said conventional parties to the conflict were responsible for a majority of the civilian casualties in the reporting period.

“We are encouraged by the decrease in violence affecting civilians this quarter and hope to see a continued downward trend,” stated Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in South Sudan. 
“However, we do note that gross violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law remain a widespread concern across South Sudan.”

The Mission reiterated its call to the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to fulfill all of its obligations, including upholding the human rights of all South Sudanese.

“UNMISS further encourages the Government and parties to implement the Roadmap so that the people of South Sudan can fully benefit from the dividends of peace,” the statement concluded.