JUBA — South Sudan’s civil society organization, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), on Thursday alleged the warring parties have perpetrated serious human rights violations against civilians in the country.
Mr. Edmund Yakani, executive director of CEPO, said they have documented various cases of human rights abuses since the outbreak of violence in mid-March 2025 between government troops and the Nuer White Army militia.
The government claimed that the White Army militia were allegedly backed up by SPLA-IO, led by the country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The violence claimed the lives of more than 400 SSPDF personnel, including their commander, Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, and displaced thousands of civilians in Nasir and Ulang Counties.
The SSPDF, together with the Uganda People’s Defense Forces, launched aerial bombardments of Nasir, Ulang, Longechuk, and Fangak areas to flush out the White Army militia.
They have also been accused of targeting civilians in aerial bombardments in the Upper Nile region and Warrap State.
“Citizens are experiencing grave human rights violations across the country committed by the members of the conflicting parties in various parts of the country,” Yakani said in a statement extended to Sudan’s Post on Thursday.
Yakani accused the government troops and the SPLA-IO forces of committing human rights abuses, including burning people.
“The current gross human rights violation is widening the hate and bitterness among the members of the communities,” Yakani said.
He stated the reports of human rights abuses and atrocities were documented by communities affected by the violence across the country.
“South Sudan should know their ill acts and atrocities are fully documented, and they will one day answer questions for justice and accountability without any fear or favor.”
The human rights activist called on political leaders to engage their troops to ensure that they respect human rights principles by adhering to international treaties.
“Regularly, the image of grave human rights violations is emerging out of the fighting front lines in various areas of South Sudan being committed by fighting forces of the conflicting parties.”
An outspoken activist warned that the breakdown of the social fabric along political and ethnic lines is getting worse as the armed confrontation continues among the parties.
“The scale of trauma is widening and scaling up among the communities of South Sudan; people are witnessing direct or indirect human rights violations being committed by parties.”
The SSPDF and SPLA-IO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
