Government reshuffle amid lack of justice and continued international scrutiny

Expression

Digital and physical surveillance targets human rights defenders

On 18th March 2021, Front Line Defenders released a report documenting NSS’s use of digital and physical surveillance to target exiled human rights defenders (HRDs). The report detailed testimonies from 14 South Sudanese HRDs. It found that the NSS uses surveillance means to kidnap, deport and target exiled HRDs, leading to a climate of fear.

Association

686 abducted women and children

On 23rd March 2021, the UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS). However, a second resolution was adopted at the initiative of the African Group of states on behalf of South Sudan. This second resolution attempted to discontinue the CHRSS’s mandate and to replace it with technical assistance to be provided by OHCHR. With the adoption of these two resolutions, international scrutiny of South Sudan’s human rights situation will continue. On 5th April 2021, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reunited 58 abducted women and children with their families, following a peace conference that took place in Uror County, where traditional leaders, women, youth and cattle camp leaders discussed compensation for lives lost and the return of abducted women and children. According to UNMISS, 686 women and children were abducted between January and August 2020 during intercommunal violence between communities in Jonglei State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

On 10th April 2021, President Salva Kiir promoted one of the National Security Service (NSS) high ranking officials, Akol Koor Kuc, to the rank of First Lieutenant General. Human Rights Watch condemned South Sudan for rewarding senior officials implicated in human rights violations instead of holding them criminally accountable. The NSS is responsible for grave human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, torture, detention and enforced disappearances. It has increased its pressure on civil society actors after the signature of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, according to reports.

Peaceful Assembly

Protestors demand better health services

Activists, civilians and motorcyclists - known as “boda boda” riders - held demonstrations in Juba following the death of South Sudanese singer Trisha Cee and a boda boda rider in a road accident. The protestors demanded better health services to avoid similar occurrences in future. South Sudanese police arrested and later released a few protestors and activists.