The United Nations raised concerns over human rights violations in South Sudan, reporting that over 1,140 civilians, including children, were arbitrarily detained between January 2023 and May 2024. Many detainees faced persecution for resisting arranged marriages or being affiliated with opposition parties. UN officials called for the immediate release of unlawfully detained individuals and accountability for abuses committed by state security forces.
The United Nations has expressed profound alarm regarding ongoing human rights violations in South Sudan, specifically addressing the arbitrary arrests and detentions of numerous individuals, including women and children. A joint report issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) indicates that from January 2023 to May 2024, approximately 1,140 civilians were detained without legal justification, 87 of whom were children.
Among those detained were women and girls who resisted coerced marriages, sought divorce, or were accused of adultery. Furthermore, members of opposition parties and their perceived associates were frequently targeted amongst those arbitrarily arrested. The UN condemned these detentions, noting that many were executed for actions not classified as criminal offenses.
The report highlighted that while both governmental security forces and armed entities contributed to these violations, the predominant number of arrests were undertaken by government agents. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has urged South Sudanese authorities to immediately release unlawfully detained individuals and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these abuses.
Since its independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan, the youngest nation globally, has confronted numerous challenges, such as ethnic conflict, power struggles, and economic instability, compounded by natural disasters. The political climate remains tense, with significant aspects of a 2018 peace agreement yet to be implemented, including the establishment of a permanent constitution and the unification of rival military factions aligned with President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Notably, the transitional government has recently postponed the execution timeline of the peace deal and delayed elections until December 2026, exacerbating the prevailing political insecurity.
The situation in South Sudan has been precarious since the nation’s independence from Sudan in 2011. The aftermath has been characterized by persistent ethnic violence, conflicts over power, and a grave humanitarian crisis exacerbated by economic hardships and natural calamities. As the latest peace agreement signed in 2018 remains largely unfulfilled, the political landscape is fraught with tension, hindering effective governance and stability. Arbitrary arrests, particularly of vulnerable groups such as women and children, further complicate the challenges faced by the populace and impede progress toward a peaceful resolution.
The UN’s condemnation of arbitrary arrests in South Sudan underscores the pressing human rights violations affecting the civilian population, particularly marginalized groups. As the country grapples with an unstable political environment compounded by unfulfilled peace agreements, the situation remains dire. Urgent action is needed to release those unlawfully detained and to implement the necessary reforms aimed at restoring justice and security for all citizens.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
