The United Nations Commission on the Human Rights in South Sudan issued a stark warning on Wednesday, expressing grave concerns about the escalating risk of a renewed nationwide conflict in the world’s youngest nation. The Commission highlighted a troubling increase in armed skirmishes, political unrest, detentions, and human rights abuses across the country, attributing much of this instability to pervasive political corruption.

Commissioner Barney Afako provided a grim outlook, stating, "The ceasefire is not holding, political detentions have become a tool of repression, the peace agreement’s key provisions are being systematically violated, and the Government forces are using aerial bombardments in civilian areas. All indicators point to a slide back toward another deadly war."

South Sudan's history is marred by protracted civil conflicts, both before and after achieving independence from Sudan in 2011. The region endured the first Sudanese civil war from 1955-1972, sparked by tensions between the Arab-Muslim North and the non-Arab, Christian South, leading to the creation of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region (SSAR). A second civil war broke out in 1983 following Sudanese then-president Gaafar Nimeiry’s declaration of Sudan as an Islamic state, lasting until a 2005 peace agreement that provided Southern Sudan greater autonomy.

Internal strife continued with a civil war from 2013-2015, ignited by disputes between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his cabinet, which was suspected of plotting a coup. Although peace was temporarily restored with agreements in 2015 and 2018, underlying tensions persisted.

The international community, including the UN and neighboring African nations, has been exerting pressure on the South Sudanese government to draft a permanent constitution, establish the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, and promote an inclusive political system. UN peacekeeping initiatives have been crucial in assisting over 1.3 million internally displaced persons within South Sudan.

Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka underscored the urgency of the situation in her address to the Assembly and the South Sudanese government, stating, "Peace will not come through words or handshakes… It will come through concrete actions—ending impunity, protecting civilians, and building institutions that serve people, not power. Justice and accountability must not remain deferred promises. The international community must move beyond expressions of concern to concrete, coordinated action. Otherwise, the suffering will only intensify."

The Commission on the Human Rights in South Sudan was established as an independent entity tasked with investigating potential human rights violations within the country. Its latest alerts serve as a critical call to action to prevent South Sudan from descending into another devastating conflict.