UN warns South Sudan leaders risk ‘deadly crisis,’ peace deal collapse

GENEVA – South Sudan’s leaders are risking a return to widespread conflict and the collapse of a fragile peace agreement, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned on Friday, citing escalating violence and political tensions.

The commission, in a statement extended to Sudans Post today, pointed to a surge in fighting in Upper Nile State, including a “criminal attack” on a UN aircraft in Nasir that resulted in fatalities, including UN personnel, as well as rising political intrigue in the capital, Juba.

“South Sudan should be moving forward, implementing the provisions of the peace agreement, strengthening institutions, and building a foundation for democracy,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission, in a statement. “Instead, we are witnessing an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress.”

The commission condemned the violence in Nasir as a potential war crime, attributing it to “political mismanagement,” including delays in unifying armed forces as stipulated in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.

It also cited the targeting and dismissal of opposition figures, including ministers and governors, and the mobilization of militias as contributing to destabilization and violence.

“What we are witnessing now is a return to the reckless power struggles that have devastated the country in the past,” said Commissioner Barney Afako. “South Sudanese have suffered enough. They deserve respite and peace, not another cycle of war.”

The commission urged all parties to the peace agreement to respect human rights and complete key transitional processes, including constitutional reforms and the establishment of a truth commission, reparations authority, and hybrid court.

“It is time for leaders to act responsibly,” said Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández. “South Sudan must continue to move forward with the transition—towards stability, democracy, and lasting peace—otherwise the country will backslide into chaos.”

The commission called on regional and international actors, particularly neighboring states and guarantors of the peace agreement, to re-engage with South Sudan’s leaders, de-escalate violence, and ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire and transition.