JUBA – At least 635 civilians were killed and a smiliar number injured in widespread violence in South Sudan between April and June 2025, the UNMISS Human Rights Division (HRD) has said in a report.
The human rights report has documented a drastic rise in the number of civilians losing their lives and being injured due to intensifying hostilities between the conventional parties to the armed conflict and other armed groups.
It documented 334 incidents of conflict-related violence affecting 1,518 civilians, including 635 killed, 676 injured, 133 abducted, and 74 subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in that period.
That’s a 204 percent increase compared to the same quarter in 2024. Violence attributable to these actors was the second leading cause of harm nationwide, accounting for 30 percent of incidents and 29 percent of victims.
“This sharp escalation of violence was driven primarily by the expansion of the localized conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and White Army militia in Nasir, Upper Nile, which evolved into nationwide political tensions,” states the report.
Armed confrontations involving the parties to the armed conflict and other armed groups severely undermined the protection of civilians and resulted in violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.
The report particularly notes concern about the alleged use of indiscriminate aerial bombardments on civilian-populated areas.
“UNMISS calls on all parties to the armed conflict to comply at all times with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, precaution and military necessity,” states the report.
“Furthermore, UNMISS reminds the Government of South Sudan of its obligation under international human rights law to take adequate measures to protect civilians, investigate alleged violations, and hold perpetrators accountable in accordance with fair trial guarantees.”
Overall, in the second quarter of this year, 334 incidents of conflict-related violence were recorded, affecting 1518 civilians, including 198 women and 155 children. Compared to the same period in 2024, this represents a five percent increase in incidents and a 43 percent increase in victims.
Concerningly, compared to the same period in 2024, those killed rose by 44 percent (442-635), and injuries increased by 128 percent (297 to 676).
The report noted that the number of victims is likely underreported due to challenges in accessing conflict hotspots.
Consistent with the previous quarter, inter/intra-communal violence by community-based militias and/or civil defense groups remained the primary form of violence affecting civilians, accounting for 61 percent of violent incidents and 68 percent of victims (or 1,036 individuals) documented nationwide.
This represents a six percent decrease in the number of incidents and a threepercent decrease in the number of victims compared to the previous quarter.
Persistent inter/intra-communal violence involving these groups was driven by several factors, including unresolved grievances and cyclical revenge attacks, territorial disputes, cattle-raiding, access to natural resources and grazing land, and the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and lightweapons (SALW).
Continued violence involving these groups exacerbated the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, resulting in thedisplacement of civilians and the disruption of economic livelihood activities of communities, thereby undermining the rights to freedom of movement, adequate food and housing, in addition to the right to life and security.
Warrap State experienced the highest number of victims attributable to community-based militias and/or civil defense groups, accounting for 44 percent of victims nationwide and 99 percent of victims within the State.
Specifically, during the reporting period, violence attributable to these groups resulted in a total of 668 civilian casualties (330 killed and 338 injured) in Warrap State, including 59 women and 19 children (three boys and 16 girls).
UNMISS said despite its continued engagements with State and County authorities as well as community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, widespread intra-communal violence between armed elements from Dinka sub-groups remained the primary driver of civilian casualties within the state, accounting for 81 percent of documented victims (or 545 individuals).
Further, UNMISS HRD documented cross-border attacks on communities in Warrap State by armed elements from Lakes, Unity and Western Bahr el Ghazal States, whichcollectively accounted for 18 percent of civilian casualties (or 123 individuals) in Warrap State.
