JUBA – South Sudanese security forces have carried out widespread arrests of boys, young men, and women in the capital, Juba, since late June 2025, leading to serious human rights abuses, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The arrests were launched after reports of rising gang violence, including a widely shared video showing the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl. Authorities said the operation aimed to crack down on criminal gangs. However, HRW says the campaign quickly turned into mass arbitrary arrests and abuse of civilians.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 37 people, including victims and relatives, as well as civil society activists and UN experts. Many described being beaten, tortured, extorted for money, or held in overcrowded police and military facilities with little food or water. Some detainees said they were released only after their families paid bribes.
Women detained during police raids reported being raped by police officers at a police station in Juba. Boys and young men said they were targeted simply for gathering in groups or walking together.
HRW also documented cases of forced conscription. Dozens of boys and men were reportedly transferred from detention centers in Juba to military camps in Upper Nile state, where fighting has intensified.
Some were forced to fight on the front lines, while others were made to work for soldiers, the watchdog said. At least four families said their relatives disappeared after being detained, and authorities have refused to say where they are.
South Sudanese law and international treaties ban arbitrary detention, torture, rape, and the recruitment of children into armed forces. Forced conscription of adults is also illegal in most circumstances.
Human Rights Watch warned that failing to disclose the whereabouts of detainees could amount to enforced disappearances, which are strictly prohibited under international law.
Police officials have denied claims of forced conscription, saying detainees were moved out of Juba due to overcrowding. Human Rights Watch said it could not verify this explanation.
The rights group urged South Sudan’s government to end the abuses, release those unlawfully detained, investigate allegations of torture and rape, and hold security forces accountable.
It also called on international partners to ensure that any support to South Sudan’s security forces is tied to respect for human rights and prevention of child recruitment.
“Instead of addressing crime, the security forces have used this campaign to seriously abuse and further marginalize young people,” Human Rights Watch said, calling for rights-respecting solutions and stronger support for youth programs.