Conditions for South Sudan elections remain unfavorable: UN experts warn

JUBA — The United Nations human rights experts on Thursday warned that conditions for peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections in South Sudan remain unfavorable, citing continued violence, political tensions, and restrictions on civic and political space.

The warning comes as South Sudan prepares for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026, with less than four months remaining before the planned polls.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Juba on Thursday after concluding their four-day visit to South Sudan, Commissioner Barney Afako said South Sudan’s planned December elections face growing risks from renewed violence, shrinking civic space, and persistent impunity.

“Even as the country heads for elections, political and civic space has narrowed, while many of the safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible polls are still missing,” Afako said.

Afako said the implementation of the key provisions of the South Sudan Revitalized Peace Agreement has largely stalled, increasing the risk of renewed conflict.

“The political failures of South Sudan’s leaders continue to reproduce the conditions for damaging violence. Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement has stalled, but its objectives for delivering a transformed, democratic, and peaceful South Sudan remain as relevant as ever and must be protected,” he said.

He stressed that credible elections require an environment where political parties can campaign freely, citizens can participate without intimidation, and journalists and civil society organizations can operate without undue restrictions.

“South Sudanese do have a right to vote; that right must be protected by ensuring they can participate freely, compete fairly, and resolve any electoral disputes through credible adjudication. These are the safeguards that will prevent an election from becoming a trigger for violence and disruption,” he said.

During the visit to South Sudan, the human rights experts travelled to Bor, where they met survivors of recent fighting in northern Jonglei.

The survivors, including women and girls, described killings, sexual violence, displacement, and separation from their families. Some also reported a lack of medical and psychosocial support.

For her part, Yasmin Sooka, Chairperson of the Commission, said civilians continued to bear the brunt of violence, displacement, and insecurity.

“Visit after visit, we continue to hear from people who bear the consequences of violence, displacement, insecurity, and the failures of those with political and security responsibilities to prevent and address those harms,” Sooka said.

She said the Commission continued to hear similar stories of suffering, with families forced from their homes, communities living in fear, women and girls facing serious violations, and people struggling to access even the most basic services.

“The patterns have changed little, while the human cost continues to grow. South Sudanese people deserve better than to have their lives shaped by recurring cycles of violence and uncertainty.”

She said the Commission remains concerned about killings, displacement, attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, disruption of humanitarian operations, and growing insecurity for humanitarian personnel.

“These developments underscore the urgent need for all parties to comply fully with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law and take concrete measures to protect civilians.”

Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez stressed that the consequences of weak governance and corruption are felt directly by the population, particularly as humanitarian needs increase and international humanitarian funding becomes increasingly constrained.

“All these years, the Commission has documented serious violations and identified the same underlying problem: impunity. Too often, those responsible for grave abuses have not been held accountable, while institutions responsible for justice remain weak and under-resourced,” Carlos said.

“One year after our report on corruption, there has also been little meaningful implementation of its recommendations, and in some areas the situation has deteriorated further.”

He said that when violations go unpunished and public resources are diverted without consequence, impunity becomes entrenched, creating conditions that fuel further violence.

“South Sudan cannot break this cycle without credible accountability, functioning justice institutions, and transparent management of the country’s resources.”

He urged the government to strengthen public financial management, ensure transparency and independent oversight of public revenues, and direct national resources towards essential public services.

He further stressed that public resources should be managed in the public interest and that allegations of corruption and economic crimes require effective, independent, and transparent investigation and, where warranted, prosecution.

The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) is an independent investigative body established by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2016.

It was created amid concerns over widespread human rights violations and abuses committed during South Sudan’s conflict.

Its original mandate was for one year and has subsequently been renewed several times.

The Commission’s core responsibilities include investigating and reporting on the human rights situation in South Sudan, documenting violations and abuses, identifying the facts and circumstances surrounding alleged crimes, and collecting and preserving evidence.

It also examines issues including sexual and gender-based violence and ethnic violence, with the broader aim of combating impunity and promoting accountability.