Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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March 10, 2026 Peace and security
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern on Tuesday about serious violations reportedly occurring in the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. The UN human rights chief called on all parties to immediately cease fire.
According to Türk, there are growing reports of brutal killings of civilians, destruction and poisoning of water sources, and new waves of mass displacement.
Horrific incidents
According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 160 civilians have been killed in the country over the past 17 days. On March 1, militants from the Boul Nuer ethnic group killed at least 139 people in the Abiemnom district in the north of the country.
Another incident occurred on February 21 in the village of Pankor in Jonglei State in the east of the country, where government forces reportedly killed 21 civilians. According to the UN, soldiers gathered people under the pretext of distributing food aid and then opened fire. Among the dead were 15 women and three girls.
On the same day, troops reportedly tied up and beheaded four civilians – an elderly man, a woman, a boy and a girl – in the village of Thiam in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.
Orders for the withdrawal of UN personnel
On March 6, the military ordered all residents to leave the town of Akobo and nearby villages in the east of the country, demanding the closure of the temporary base of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the withdrawal of other UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. In response, the Mission stated that its peacekeepers would remain in Akobo to ensure the protection of civilians.
Possible war crimes
“Civilians are being killed, injured and displaced daily across the country amid escalation of hostilities "between government forces and the opposition," Türk said. He added that some of these actions could qualify as war crimes.
According to local residents, government airstrikes destroyed or deliberately contaminated water sources – approximately 99 wells that provided water to local communities.
The High Commissioner called for prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all alleged violations of international law and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Mass displacement
Since the end of December, more than 280,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in South Sudan, mainly in Lakes, Jonglei and Upper Nile states.
Türk stressed that the mass exodus of residents from Akobo only intensifies the suffering of the population, which is already experiencing the consequences of the renewed fighting in January.
"A ceasefire must be established as soon as possible to save lives and move this conflict toward a negotiated solution," he said. He also called on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the violence and emphasized the need to resume dialogue.
"The parties must urgently take tangible steps to salvage the fragile peace agreement. South Sudan must be pulled back from the brink of full-scale civil war," the High Commissioner added.
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