The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan issued a stark warning on Monday about the escalating armed violence, severe human rights violations, and mass displacement in the nation, criticizing its political leaders for "deliberately stalling progress" and pushing the country to the brink of disaster once again.

According to the Commission's recent findings during their mission to the African Union (AU), South Sudan is experiencing levels of armed conflict not seen since the cessation of hostilities in 2017, placing civilians in grave danger. The crisis has driven roughly 300,000 South Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda this year alone. The region now shelters over 2.5 million South Sudanese refugees and houses an additional 2 million internally displaced persons.

Barney Afako, who spearheaded the Commission's mission to the AU, highlighted the grave nature of the situation, linking the increasing violence and rampant corruption to a failure of leadership in implementing peace agreements and political transitions. Afako stressed the need for "immediate, sustained, and coordinated political engagement by the region" to prevent South Sudan from sliding back into full-scale conflict, which could have devastating human rights consequences for its people and the broader region.

The Commission and experts are urging the AU and UN Security Council to prioritize justice and accountability measures, particularly through the establishment of the Hybrid Court, a mechanism agreed upon in the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. Over a decade since the conflict began in December 2013, victims are still awaiting reparations and credible justice. Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission, emphasized the critical need for the Hybrid Court to transition from concept to action, underscoring the African Union's "mandate and moral responsibility" to ensure holistic transitional justice for South Sudan.

The Commission also connected systemic corruption to the intensification of internal conflict, noting that the diversion of public resources has deprived citizens of basic rights and undermined governance, justice, and social stability. The report further highlighted that the renewed violence disproportionately affects women, exposing them to displacement, sexual violence, and loss of livelihood. Without urgent political solutions and enhanced protection measures, humanitarian agencies warn that the situation will continue to deteriorate.

Historically plagued by ethnic divisions, political rivalries, and disputes over resources, South Sudan's longstanding conflict has been exacerbated post-independence in 2011. Despite the 2018 agreement aiming to stabilize the country, corruption and weak enforcement have led to repeated setbacks. While regional mediation has so far prevented a total collapse, the recent surge in violence underscores the fragility of these efforts. The Commission advocates for a political transition that includes all groups, backed by regional and international support, as the only way to halt further decline.

Members of both the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council are set to convene this week at the AU headquarters to discuss the crisis further.