By Cecilia Ologunagba
New York, Jan. 9, 2026
The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has issued a stark condemnation of an alarming rise in abductions and sexual violence, labeling the trend “unacceptable” despite a broader, yet fragile, reduction in overall conflict-related incidents. This troubling divergence highlights a shifting and increasingly sinister pattern of violence within the country’s protracted crisis.
The findings, detailed in UNMISS’s latest quarterly human rights brief covering July to September 2025, come against a backdrop of continued deterioration in the political and security landscape. The report identifies a toxic confluence of drivers: persistent inter- and intra-communal violence fueled by community militias; hostilities between the main warring parties and other armed groups, some allegedly involving foreign forces; deepening political tensions between the ruling party and opposition; and escalating ethnic polarization.
While the brief documents 295 conflict-related incidents impacting 1,153 civilians—a 12% decrease in incidents and a 24% drop in total victims compared to the prior quarter—the nature of the violence has grown more targeted and traumatic. Of those affected, 519 civilians were killed, 396 injured, 159 abducted, and 79 subjected to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).
Herein lies the critical paradox: while civilian killings decreased by 18% and injuries fell by 41%, abductions surged by 20% and CRSV cases rose by 7%. This indicates that armed groups may be shifting tactics, using abduction as a tool for resource extraction (through ransom), forced recruitment, or communal punishment, while sexual violence persists as a weapon of war to terrorize populations, destroy social fabric, and assert control.
“While the decline in casualties this quarter offers a measure of hope, the increase in abductions and sexual violence, and persistent armed hostilities are unacceptable,” stated Anita Kiki Gbeho, Officer-in-Charge of UNMISS.
The report underscores that the protection of civilians remains severely compromised. Widespread armed confrontations, shelling, aerial bombardments, and targeted airstrikes continue in regions including Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Western Equatoria states. These tactics not only cause immediate casualties but also generate waves of forced displacement, which in turn undermine peacebuilding, expose civilians to further risks like starvation and disease, and create a self-perpetuating cycle of instability.
Ms. Gbeho urgently called on all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, emphasizing that “Accountability for violations and respect for human rights remain essential for building trust, reconciliation, and a durable peace in South Sudan.” This point is crucial; without concrete steps toward justice for victims of abduction and sexual violence, including the prosecution of perpetrators, any political peace agreement will lack legitimacy and sustainability in the eyes of a traumatized populace.
The UNMISS brief serves as a sobering reminder that statistical reductions in one category of violence can mask horrifying regressions in others. For the people of South Sudan, the decline in total incidents offers little solace to communities living under the constant threat of kidnapping and systematic sexual assault. The international community’s focus must now sharpen on these specific, egregious crimes to protect the most vulnerable and address the tactics that fuel South Sudan’s enduring human tragedy.
Source: NAN News (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
