The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has issued a blunt warning about the worsening political crisis in the country, urging the African Union and the UN Security Council to act swiftly before South Sudan descends into all-out war again. In a statement released Monday, the Commission highlighted ongoing armed violence, human rights violations, and the displacement of civilians, all of which have worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.
The Commission, an independent body mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, accuses South Sudan's leaders of deliberately stalling progress toward peace and transition by allowing impunity, corruption, and political intransigence to fuel conflict and instability. It warns that the latest political fracture has emboldened armed groups and triggered renewed conflicts, displacing thousands.
Armed clashes are occurring on a scale not seen since the 2017 cessation of hostilities, and civilians are bearing the brunt of human rights violations and forced displacement. The escalating crisis has forced thousands of South Sudanese to flee their homes, an estimated 300,000 fled the country in 2025 alone.
Of the more than 4.5 million South Sudanese who have been displaced, neighboring countries are hosting over 2.5 million refugees. In 2025, there have been 148,000 new arrivals to Sudan, 50,000 to Ethiopia, 50,000 to Uganda, 30,000 to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 25,000 to Kenya.
South Sudan itself grapples with an internally displaced population of over 2 million, as well as an additional 1.2 million people — South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese — who are fleeing the war in Sudan. Women are disproportionately affected, bearing the greatest burdens and risks of displacement.
“The ongoing political crisis, increasing fighting, and unchecked, systemic corruption are all symptoms of the failure of leadership and consensus in implementing the commitments of the peace agreement and political transition,” said Commissioner Barney Afako.
“Unless there is immediate, sustained and coordinated political engagement by the region, South Sudan risks sliding back into full-scale conflict with unimaginable human rights consequences for its people and the wider region.”
He added that the South Sudanese are looking to the African Union and the region "to rescue them from a preventable fate."
The Commission called on the AU to establish transitional justice mechanisms, particularly the proposed Hybrid Court, to hold past crimes accountable and strengthen South Sudan's justice institutions.
“More than ever, justice is essential for South Sudan,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission. “The promises made to victims years ago remain unmet.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández warned that mounting armed clashes, mass displacement, and the fracturing of the peace agreement signed seven years ago demonstrate that South Sudan cannot rebuild without stability and justice.
“Credible and independent mechanisms for justice and accountability are needed to deter the repeated cycles of atrocities, break cycles of impunity and heal the wounds of war,” she stressed.
Fernández added that the AU and its regional partners must act urgently “not only to prevent another war, but to build the foundations of a just peace, based on the rule of law.”
The Commission emphasized the need for stepped-up regional efforts to de-escalate political tensions and address armed conflicts in South Sudan.
Sooka stressed that the crisis unfolding in South Sudan was the result of “deliberate choices” made by its leaders “to put their interests above those of their people”.
“The region and the international community must now prevail upon South Sudan's leaders to make a different choice - one that puts their people first,” she said.
Since March of this year, political instability and rising hostilities between armed groups have led to clashes in Upper Nile State and other regions. These clashes have resulted in deaths, injuries, and destruction of civilian infrastructure, forcing many people who are already displaced, suffering from disease, and facing food insecurity to flee again.
The sharp deterioration of the country's political and security situation threatens to undermine the peace progress made thus far and plunge the country back into a state of war. Tensions have been heightened by conflict within the government, particularly between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with Vice President Riek Machar.
South Sudan is experiencing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises
South Sudan is currently experiencing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises and facing one of its bleakest outlooks since gaining independence in 2011, with 9.3 million people in need of assistance. According to a June UN report, the country is one of the world’s top five hunger hotspots, where people face extreme hunger, starvation, and death.
The ongoing war in neighboring Sudan is fueling instability and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. Already stretched thin, humanitarian agencies are doing what they can to support the over 1.2 million refugees and returnees who have fled the conflict in Sudan since April 2023 and now reside in South Sudan.
Nationwide, 7.7 million people — 57 percent of the population — are experiencing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Among them, 83,000 people are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC5), and around 2.4 million facing emergency levels (IPC4).
An unprecedented 2.3 million children under five are at risk of malnutrition. Of those children, over 714,000 suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and require urgent medical attention.
Plummeting global funding exacerbates the already dire humanitarian situation by leaving people without essential aid and hindering the ability of aid agencies to scale up emergency interventions, preposition supplies, and sustain operations.
Despite growing needs, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), which requires US$1.7 billion to support nearly 5.4 million of the country's most vulnerable people, is only 30 percent funded to date.
The country is also home to numerous public health crises, which are made worse by limited immunization coverage, disrupted immunization services, and widespread displacement. Inadequate access to basic necessities, such as food, clean water, and healthcare, contributes to the near collapse of livelihoods.
Furthermore, South Sudan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and has experienced consecutive years of record flooding, resulting in widespread displacement, loss of agricultural land, and destruction of livelihoods. In 2024, severe flooding affected approximately 1.4 million people across the country.
Current floods impact nearly 900,000 people
On Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that flooding continues across South Sudan due to heavy rains and rising water levels along the Nile River. Over the past three weeks, the number of people impacted by the floods has more than doubled, with about 890,000 people now affected in 26 counties across six states.
Jonglei and Unity states account for over 91 percent of those affected, with nearly a third of those country-wide affected having been displaced and seeking shelter on higher ground.
The floods have caused extensive damage to homes, crops, schools, health facilities, roads, and other critical infrastructure, further complicating humanitarian access. Some flooded areas in the southern part of the country are now only accessible by canoe.
OCHA warns that vulnerable populations affected by the floods, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and displaced communities, are exposed to an increased risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse, particularly in overcrowded shelters and unstable environments.
Meteorological forecasts predict above-average rainfall between September and December 2025, with peak flooding anticipated during these months. The number of people affected is expected to increase as the rains persist. High-risk areas include Jonglei, Upper Nile, Unity, Warrap, Lakes, and parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Central Equatoria states.
Overall, an estimated 1.6 million people in South Sudan are at risk of flooding in the coming months. This year's floods already exacerbate the existing humanitarian crisis and underscore the urgent need for additional resources to support those most affected.