Tuesday, 30 June 2026 | Author: Andrew Michael | File Photo | GT-News |
Civilian deaths and conflict-related sexual violence rose sharply in South Sudan during the first three months of 2026, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning that the worsening human toll of the country’s violence demands urgent accountability despite a slight decline in the number of recorded attacks.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it documented 206 incidents of violence affecting civilians between January and March, four percent fewer than in the previous quarter. However, the number of people affected climbed dramatically to 1,388, a 67 percent increase compared with the last three months of 2025.
According to the UNMISS quarterly report, at least 767 civilians were killed during the period, representing an 89 percent increase from the previous quarter. Another 457 people were injured, 93 were abducted, and 71 survivors experienced conflict-related sexual violence.
The victims included 1,049 men, 215 women, 82 boys and 42 girls.
The mission said the number of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 31 percent compared with the previous quarter and by 78 percent compared with the same period in 2025, describing the trend as evidence that sexual violence continues to be used deliberately during armed conflict. The report also documented 34 incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Every statistic in the report represents the impact of continued violence on human lives, underscoring the urgent need for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNMISS.
Gbeho also urged all parties to the conflict to grant UN peacekeepers safe and unhindered access to affected areas to enable investigators to document violations and support efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
“We reiterate our call to all parties to guarantee UNMISS safe, unhindered access to affected areas, so that violations can be documented, investigations pursued, and accountability delivered,” she said.
The findings come as South Sudan continues to grapple with recurring armed violence in several parts of the country, despite the existence of a peace agreement intended to end years of civil war. Humanitarian agencies and rights groups have repeatedly warned that ongoing clashes, political instability and weak accountability mechanisms continue to expose civilians to grave human rights abuses.
The latest UNMISS figures underscore the growing humanitarian consequences of the conflict and renew calls for stronger protection measures and justice for victims.
