As South Sudan approaches a significant moment in its political history with the upcoming elections slated for December 2026, renewed violence threatens to derail the nation’s fragile peace process. Reports from the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan highlight the troubling rise in violence and atrocity crimes that have emerged, disrupting the ongoing conflict resolution efforts in the nation. The violence comes under the backdrop of President Salva Kiir’s leadership and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement In-Government (SPLM-IG) political faction, exacerbating political strife and displacement, while intensifying the marginalization of certain ethnic groups.
Recent clashes arose in March 2025 when fighting broke out between government forces and the “White Army,” a youth militia associated with SPLM-IG in Nasir, Upper Nile. Government forces were reportedly involved in bombings that impacted populated areas, resulting in casualties among civilians in Nasir, Longechuk, and Ulang counties. The unrest spread to Jonglei State, displacing over 100,000 individuals by March 2026, with many fleeing to Ethiopia for refuge. These incidents further bring to light the recurring conflict-related violations in South Sudan, which include sexual violence and the recruitment of children in hostilities, covering various regions from Western Equatoria to Unity State since earlier years, as noted by the commission.
The country’s use of oil revenue has also come under scrutiny, with South Sudan’s political and military elites facing accusations of diverting resources while citizens face malnutrition and lack access to education and healthcare facilities. Concerns further deepen with President Kiir signing a bill in July 2026 to eliminate pre-election requirements established under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (RARCSS). This peace agreement, signed to resolve the 2013-2018 civil war, comprises goals intended to foster constitutionally sound and politically stable elections; however, these objectives remain largely unachieved, as outlined in assessments from recent years.
The intensifying violence and the political maneuvering to bypass established pre-election processes have raised alarms within the international community about the credibility of the forthcoming elections. According to a report from JURIST, UN Commissioners have expressed that ongoing hostilities and diminishing safeguards for peaceful political competition underscore a perilous trajectory for South Sudan’s political future. Commissioner Barney Afako emphasized the danger posed by the merging of escalating violence with the erosion of democratic safeguards. Meanwhile, Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens can vote without fear, political opponents have the freedom to participate, courts independently resolve disputes, and robust institutions are in place to check power abuses.
As the date for the election approaches, the focus remains not only on the conduct of the elections but also on whether the process will genuinely reflect democratic values, aiming to address the fissures that decades of conflict have deepened within South Sudan’s society.