The United Nations’ top human rights official warned Friday that South Sudan is a “forgotten crisis” sliding toward a return to all-out war, citing a sharp spike in civilian killings, abductions and ethnic incitement.
Briefing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Volker Türk said the country’s fragile peace agreement is under severe strain as government and opposition forces resume hostilities across multiple states. He reported a 45% increase in documented human rights violations in January compared with the previous month, following a year of escalating violence in which more than 5,100 people were killed or injured.
Türk detailed an attack last week in Ayod County in Jonglei state, where witnesses said government troops and allied militias ordered residents to gather before opening fire, killing over 20 unarmed civilians, including women and children. He said military discipline appears to have eroded in both government and opposition ranks, showing a near-total disregard for the protection of civilians.
The U.N. high commissioner expressed alarm over the mobilization of communities along ethnic lines and said his office had authenticated a recording in which a senior military official urged forces to spare no one and destroy civilian property. Acts of hate speech and incitement to violence could amount to international crimes, he warned, adding that those responsible could face prosecution.
The violence is compounding a dire humanitarian situation worsened by the conflict in neighboring Sudan. More than 10 million people in South Sudan require humanitarian assistance, and the arrival of 1.3 million refugees has further strained scarce resources. The country remains one of the most dangerous places for aid workers, with 350 attacks on humanitarian staff and facilities recorded in 2025 — an increase of more than one-third from the previous year, according to the U.N.
With elections scheduled for December 2026, Türk also accused the National Security Service of censoring media outlets and intimidating journalists and human rights defenders. The U.N. documented 27 incidents of arbitrary arrest and intimidation during the year, affecting 62 people.
Türk called for the immediate establishment of the long-delayed Hybrid Court for South Sudan to ensure accountability. “The system is flashing red,” he said, urging swift international action to prevent further fragmentation and cycles of retaliation that could push the country back into full-scale civil war.