The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has marked the 11th anniversary of the country’s civil war with the release of a powerful 19-minute video report titled The Unrelenting Cycle of Violence in South Sudan.
The video highlights the ongoing violence and human rights violations that have plagued the country for over a decade, featuring harrowing testimonies from victims and underscoring the deep, enduring pain caused by the conflict.
The report paints a grim picture of a nation still trapped in a cycle of politically driven violence, ethnic strife, and widespread human rights abuses.
Despite multiple peace agreements, including the 2015 Peace Agreement and the 2018 Revitalized Agreement, South Sudan continues to suffer from massacres, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, and forced displacement.
Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the UN Commission, emphasized the lack of accountability for the crimes committed during the conflict, which has led to a culture of impunity.
“The demand from South Sudanese civilians is clear: they want justice and reparations for the suffering they have endured. They have waited far too long,” Sooka said.
The video report, which features testimonies from victims, highlights the severe emotional and physical toll the conflict has taken on individuals, families, and communities.
It illustrates the entrenched repression in South Sudan, where political and civic freedoms are severely restricted.
Those who speak out or dissent face threats and intimidation from the National Security Service, further perpetuating the cycle of violence and fear.
Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez stressed that the human cost of the conflict is immeasurable, with the failure to hold perpetrators accountable serving as a significant barrier to peace.
“For the victims and survivors, the lack of accountability remains one of the most significant barriers to peace.
Failing to end impunity is a failure of governance and leadership.
The situation will not improve until there is a robust, independent national system of justice,” Fernandez said.
The report underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to transitional justice, including criminal accountability, truth-telling, reparations, and institutional reforms to prevent future violence.
The Commission called on the South Sudanese government to take concrete steps toward justice, including the establishment of the Hybrid Court, the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing, and the creation of the Compensation and Reparation Authority to ensure victims receive the recognition and support they deserve.
Commissioner Barney Afako added that thousands of South Sudanese continue to live in fear of violence, displacement, and death, with many of those responsible for the suffering remaining in positions of power.
“Authorities must stop shifting blame and take urgent action to establish accountability mechanisms to prevent further violence,” Afako said.
As South Sudan marks this somber anniversary, the UN Commission has reiterated that lasting peace and reconciliation can only be achieved through genuine accountability, the protection of human rights, and the creation of an environment where citizens can trust the state to safeguard their rights.
“Without a genuine commitment to accountability, peace and reconciliation will remain elusive,” Afako warned.
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