UN experts visit South Sudan to assess human rights situation amid abuses

JUBA – A delegation of independent United Nations human rights experts has arrived in South Sudan for a four-day mission to evaluate the country’s human rights situation. The visit comes amid persistent reports of atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances.

The team, led by Yasmin Sooka, Chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, includes Commissioners Barney Afako and Carlos Castresana Fernández.

During their mission, the experts will meet with government officials, survivors of human rights violations, civil society organizations, legal experts, humanitarian groups, and diplomatic representatives.

In a statement extended to South Sudan on Monday, the Commission outlined the objectives of the visit, emphasizing the need to address ongoing human rights abuses and discuss findings from recent investigations.

“The experts will meet members of the Government of South Sudan, survivors of human rights violations, members of civil society, jurists, humanitarians, and representatives of diplomatic missions and United Nations entities,” the Commission said.

“They plan to discuss the human rights situation in South Sudan, including the Commission’s latest findings and recommendations from its independent investigations,” the statement added.

The Commission has previously documented widespread human rights violations in South Sudan, including targeted killings, sexual violence against women and girls, arbitrary detentions, and the repression of journalists and activists.

Its reports have also highlighted atrocities committed by both state and non-state actors, such as the deliberate targeting of civilians, recruitment of child soldiers, and systematic attacks on humanitarian workers.

Despite repeated calls for accountability, progress on justice mechanisms remains slow. The establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, a key component of the 2018 peace agreement, has been repeatedly delayed, raising concerns among human rights advocates.

The experts’ visit comes at a critical time for South Sudan, as intercommunal violence and political instability continue to exacerbate the country’s humanitarian crisis despite the 2018 peace agreement.

The delegation is expected to present its latest findings to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next week.

The Commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016, has consistently urged the South Sudanese government to take concrete steps to address impunity and ensure justice for victims of human rights violations.

The delegation will hold a press conference at the UNMISS conference room in Tongping (Juba Nabari), on February 20, before concluding its mission. The event is expected to provide further insights into the Commission’s findings and recommendations.