Reports from Human Rights Watch indicate that both military and opposition forces in South Sudan have obstructed humanitarian efforts and ordered civilians to leave heavily populated areas, heightening concerns about the safety and wellbeing of these populations. Since late 2025, multiple evacuation orders have been issued by the country’s military, with at least three being comprehensive in scope. Similarly, at least three significant orders have been released by opposition forces, leading to massive displacements of civilians from their homes, educational institutions, and workplaces.
Nyagoah Tut Pur, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the adverse impact of these military activities on civilians. She stated that the continuous pressure from both South Sudanese authorities and opposition forces to vacate these areas increases the vulnerability of civilians, placing hundreds of thousands at risk. The actions taken by the warring factions are pressing civilians toward further danger and hardship. As per international humanitarian law, they are obliged to protect civilians, whether they choose to evacuate or not. The situation is dire enough that it has provoked international concern, with UN experts urging all parties to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue to ensure the protection of citizens.
In some instances, these evacuation orders have paved the way for indiscriminate aerial bombardments by the government in the very areas where civilians had been directed to evacuate, causing harm to many. Moreover, the government has imposed no-flight zones, effectively denying humanitarian workers access to areas controlled by opposition forces. Opposition forces have issued similar restrictions, warning that any humanitarian agencies entering certain government-controlled areas would be considered aligned with the government, leading to a suspension of their operations.
According to the Geneva Conventions, as found in Article 52 of Additional Protocol I, civilian properties such as homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship should never be targeted or used for reprisals. Despite these protections, it appears that aid access is being manipulated to serve political agendas, leaving countless civilians in dire need and facing potential human rights violations. For detailed insights, the full report from Human Rights Watch is available here.
The international community, including regional actors, has been called upon to hold those responsible for the humanitarian crisis to account. The ongoing barriers to aid and the systematic attacks on civilians underscore the immediate need for a robust international response to secure humanitarian relief and uphold the fundamental rights of those affected by the conflict in South Sudan.