News|ConflictSouth Sudan at risk of ‘return to full-scale war’, UN warnsUN report warns of ‘escalating atrocity risks’ amid renewed fighting and widespread impunity over abuses.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) has warned of a potential escalation to full-scale war in South Sudan unless measures are taken to address systemic impunity and widespread abuses. The report, released on Fri, Feb 10,…
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) has warned of a potential escalation to full-scale war in South Sudan unless measures are taken to address systemic impunity and widespread abuses. The report, released on Fri, Feb 10, 2026, during the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, highlights severe abuses against civilians, including killings, systematic sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced displacement, and deprivation amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The report emphasizes the need for urgent preventive action due to escalating atrocity risks and the collapse of political safeguards. It calls for regional and international actors to apply diplomatic pressure, sanctions, and enforce the UN arms embargo until tangible improvements in human rights and accountability are achieved.
Investigations over the past year attribute instability to the actions of political and military elites, particularly in undermining the 2018 peace agreement's power-sharing framework. The arrest and removal from office of First Vice President Riek Machar, and his subsequent prosecution, have further destabilized the peace agreement.
Military Operations and Arms Embargo Concerns
The report indicates an intensification of military operations characterized by a shift in tactics, including air strikes on civilian-populated areas. The involvement of forces from Uganda, a guarantor of the 2018 peace agreement, has strengthened government forces and raised concerns about violations of the UN arms embargo.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) has warned of a potential escalation to full-scale war in South Sudan unless measures are taken to address systemic impunity and widespread abuses.
The report identifies conflict-related sexual violence as a persistent issue, with extensive patterns of sexual violence reported over the past decade. It highlights the entrenched impunity of senior commanders and political actors who are rarely held accountable for serious abuses.
The commission urges the South Sudanese government to halt violations by its forces, release detainees held arbitrarily, and guarantee freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. It also calls for the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms to investigate and prosecute war crimes committed since 2013.
Renewed Conflict and Humanitarian Impact
Recent escalations in fighting have renewed fears of civil war, with a coalition of opposition forces seizing government outposts in Jonglei state, an opposition stronghold. The subsequent military operations have led to significant civilian displacement and humanitarian challenges.
The United Nations reports that approximately 280,000 people have been displaced since late December 2025, with UNICEF warning that 450,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition. Humanitarian operations have been severely affected by attacks and looting, with both sides obstructing aid delivery to areas perceived as supporting their opponents.
The CHRSS report concludes that the humanitarian situation remains dire, with 10 million people in need of life-saving assistance and a 40 percent increase in displacement to 3.2 million people in the past year. The decreasing international assistance disproportionately impacts women and children.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
