The United Nations has raised the alarm over escalating violence in South Sudan, calling for an immediate ceasefire as recent clashes between government forces and opposition fighters threaten to undermine the country’s fragile peace.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for human rights highlighted reports of widespread civilian suffering, including killings, forced displacement, and deliberate destruction of infrastructure, warning that some attacks may constitute war crimes.
In just 17 days, more than 160 civilians have been killed, with the deadliest incident recorded on March 1 in Abiemnom, Ruweng administrative area, where 139 people were killed by Bul Nuer fighters.
Earlier incidents include the February 21 killings of 21 civilians in Pankor village, Jonglei State, allegedly by government forces, and the beheading of four others in Thiam village, Western Bahr al Ghazal State.
The UN reports that at least 99 water wells have been destroyed or poisoned by government airstrikes, a tactic that threatens both immediate survival and long-term access to essential resources.
Meanwhile, a military evacuation order in Akobo on March 6 forced thousands to flee, adding to a growing internally displaced population that has now surpassed 280,000 across Jonglei, Lakes, and Upper Nile States.
Türk urged stronger international engagement to halt the violence, ensure humanitarian aid reaches affected communities, and revive political dialogue aimed at preventing a return to full-scale civil war.
“The scale and pattern of attacks suggest a systemic disregard for civilian protection obligations,” Türk said, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and adherence to international law.
Analysts warn that the renewed fighting, which resumed in January, threatens the stability of the 2018 peace agreement and highlights ongoing challenges in South Sudan’s post-conflict governance, including fragmented command structures, impunity for violations, and the strategic targeting of civilians as leverage in armed confrontations.
