Uncategorized

Violence against civilians surges amidst escalating conflict in South Sudan

JUBA, South Sudan — Violence against civilians in South Sudan has surged to record levels, with 1,607 victims documented in the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. The figure marks the highest three-month total since 2020, the report said Tuesday. Between January and March, 739 civilians were killed, 679 injured, 149 abducted, and 40 subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), UNMISS reported. Compared to the previous quarter, killings more than doubled from 352, representing a 94 percent increase in victims overall. Abductions rose 15 percent, and CRSV cases increased from 35 to 40. When compared to the same period in 2024, the overall number of victims rose by 79 percent. Injuries jumped by 107 percent, and Ulang County alone saw a 58 percent rise in fatalities, from 468 to 739. Warrap state recorded the highest civilian toll, with 428 deaths and 298 injuries. Central Equatoria followed with the most abductions and a 260 percent increase in victims. The number of child victims climbed from 114 to 171, while women and girls made up 96 percent of all documented CRSV and gender-based violence cases. Most violence, 66 percent, was attributed to community-based militias or civil defense groups. Unidentified armed elements were responsible for 22 percent, and conventional parties to the conflict accounted for 15 percent—a 27 percent increase from the previous quarter. “The escalation of armed confrontations severely undermines civilian protection and results in serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Guang Cong, deputy special representative of the U.N. secretary-general. Cong emphasized the South Sudanese government’s primary responsibility to protect civilians and called for national, state and local efforts to resolve root causes of conflict through dialogue and accountability. UNMISS, he added, continues to support protection efforts by conducting thousands of land, air and river patrols annually, promoting reconciliation, bolstering justice through mobile courts, and advancing the peace process.

admin July 2, 2025 2 min read

Between January and March, 739 civilians were killed, 679 injured, 149 abducted, and 40 subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), UNMISS reported. Compared to the previous quarter, killings more than doubled from 352, representing a 94 percent increase in victims overall. Abductions rose 15 percent, and CRSV cases increased from 35 to 40.

When compared to the same period in 2024, the overall number of victims rose by 79 percent. Injuries jumped by 107 percent, and Ulang County alone saw a 58 percent rise in fatalities, from 468 to 739.

Warrap state recorded the highest civilian toll, with 428 deaths and 298 injuries. Central Equatoria followed with the most abductions and a 260 percent increase in victims. The number of child victims climbed from 114 to 171, while women and girls made up 96 percent of all documented CRSV and gender-based violence cases.

Most violence, 66 percent, was attributed to community-based militias or civil defense groups. Unidentified armed elements were responsible for 22 percent, and conventional parties to the conflict accounted for 15 percent—a 27 percent increase from the previous quarter.

“The escalation of armed confrontations severely undermines civilian protection and results in serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Guang Cong, deputy special representative of the U.N. secretary-general.

Cong emphasized the South Sudanese government’s primary responsibility to protect civilians and called for national, state and local efforts to resolve root causes of conflict through dialogue and accountability.

UNMISS, he added, continues to support protection efforts by conducting thousands of land, air and river patrols annually, promoting reconciliation, bolstering justice through mobile courts, and advancing the peace process.