The UN has condemned arbitrary arrests in South Sudan, detailing that over 1,140 civilians, including 87 children, were detained unlawfully between January 2023 and May 2024. The report highlights ongoing human rights violations, especially against women and opposition members. The UN urges immediate action from South Sudanese authorities to release detainees and enforce accountability, amid a backdrop of political instability and unimplemented peace agreements.
The United Nations has expressed grave concerns about the widespread violations of human rights occurring in South Sudan, particularly focusing on the arbitrary arrests and detentions affecting numerous individuals, including women and children. A joint report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) revealed that from January 2023 to May 2024, at least 1,140 civilians were subjected to arbitrary detention, among whom were 87 children.
The reasons behind these detentions included women and girls resisting arranged marriages, seeking divorces, or facing accusations of infidelity. Additionally, members of opposition parties and individuals labeled as their supporters were also victimized. The UN has criticized these detentions as often being based on actions that should not be considered criminal offenses. While both state security forces and armed groups are implicated, the report highlighted that most arrests were executed by government entities.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called on the South Sudanese authorities to promptly release all unlawfully detained individuals and to ensure that those responsible for these injustices are held accountable. Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has been marred by ongoing challenges, including ethnic conflicts, power disputes, economic hardships, and various natural disasters.
The current political atmosphere remains tense, with significant parts of the 2018 peace agreement still unimplemented, such as the establishment of a permanent constitution and the unification of rival forces led by President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. Recently, the transitional government postponed the timeline for enforcing the peace deal and extended the delay of elections until December 2026, exacerbating the nation’s political instability.
Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has encountered a multitude of difficulties, including ethnic clashes, governance struggles, and economic instability. The political landscape has remained uncertain, with key elements of its peace agreements unfulfilled, contributing to a climate of unrest and insecurity. The UN’s report sheds light on the alarming issue of arbitrary detentions as a part of these ongoing human rights violations, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and reforms within the South Sudanese government.
The alarming reports of arbitrary arrests in South Sudan signal a profound crisis in human rights. With over a thousand civilians detained unlawfully, including vulnerable populations such as women and children, there is an urgent need for authorities to act. The international community, led by the UN, is calling for immediate reforms and accountability to protect human rights and stabilize the ongoing political turmoil in the nation. The future of South Sudan remains uncertain without adherence to fundamental democratic principles and the rule of law.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
