South Sudan - Overview

Although an agreement on the resolution of South Sudan’s civil war was agreed in August 2015, civic space remains seriously degraded following more than two years of devastating armed conflict. Parties to the conflict committed a range of heinous war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, torture, rape, child conscription and other inhumane and degrading treatment.Even now, activists and journalists who attempt to expose human rights violations by warring parties open themselves up to death threats and physical attacks. The National Security Services (NSS) have used sweeping powers to round up civil society activists, journalists and anyone perceived to be in opposition to the government. An NGO bill passed by parliament in February 2016 threatens to further damage space for civil society by restricting the number of foreign staff and placing heavy restrictions on the ability of CSOs to provide desperately needed humanitarian relief to those affected by the conflict.