JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan is making little or no progress in tackling corruption and political instability, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned, raising fresh concerns about the country’s readiness to conduct its first-ever elections.
The warning came on Thursday after members of the UN-appointed commission toured the country ahead of presidential and other elections that the government says it intends to hold in December.
The proposed polls would mark a major milestone for South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011. However, the country continues to face severe political, security and economic challenges that threaten the credibility and peaceful conduct of the elections.
The commission said political and civic space in the country has continued to shrink, while key safeguards required for peaceful and credible elections remain absent.
More Read
“Political and civic space has narrowed, while many of the safeguards and conditions for peaceful and credible polls are still missing,” the commission said.
Violence Raises Fresh Concerns
South Sudan has experienced renewed violence between forces aligned with President Salva Kiir and supporters of his long-time rival, opposition leader Riek Machar, who remains imprisoned.
The escalating tensions have further weakened a power-sharing arrangement that was intended to stabilize the country and pave the way for democratic elections.
The UN commission said it continued to receive reports of serious human rights violations, including killings, forced displacement, sexual violence and arbitrary detention.
More Read
It called for independent investigations into alleged abuses and warned that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could further deepen the country’s cycle of violence.
Billions in Oil Revenue Allegedly Stolen
The commission also raised concerns about corruption, pointing to what it described as a lack of meaningful progress since its major report on corruption released last year.
That report accused government elites of diverting billions of dollars in oil revenues, while the country’s population continues to suffer from inadequate public services and extreme poverty.
Despite possessing significant oil resources, South Sudan remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with shortages affecting essential sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.
UN commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernandez said corruption and impunity were contributing directly to the country’s instability.
More Read
“When violations go unpunished and public resources are diverted without consequence, impunity becomes entrenched, and that breeds violence,” he warned.
Commission chair Yasmin Sooka said the situation remained deeply concerning, noting that the patterns of abuse had changed little while the human consequences continued to worsen.
“The patterns have changed little, while the human cost continues to grow,” Sooka said.
Elections Delayed Twice
South Sudan has already postponed its elections twice, first in 2022 and again in 2024.
The government previously cited a lack of institutional capacity and the need for more time to implement key provisions of the country’s peace agreement.
The latest plan to hold elections in December therefore faces intense scrutiny from the international community, particularly amid continuing political tensions, insecurity and concerns over democratic freedoms.
The UN commission’s latest assessment suggests that significant challenges remain before South Sudan can conduct elections that meet international standards for transparency, credibility and respect for human rights.
With the proposed December polls approaching, pressure is expected to mount on South Sudan’s government to create the political and security conditions necessary for a peaceful electoral process.
