General situation 
On 3rd April 2024, DefendDefenders welcomed the UN Human Rights Council's resolution to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS) to ensure international scrutiny ahead of the country's first national elections in December 2024. However, concerns persist regarding pervasive violence, impunity, and the risk of conflict relapse. Civil society emphasises the need for continued scrutiny, citing challenges to free and fair elections, economic instability, and security concerns. The UN Human Rights Council's session also highlights the significant challenges facing South Sudan, including economic impacts and neighbouring conflicts.
Association
In March 2024, the South Sudanese government passed a controversial electoral regulation, introducing a $50,000 registration fee or its equivalent in South Sudanese pounds for political parties participating in the forthcoming general election, a significant increase from the previous fee of 20,000 pounds ($ 150). This move drew swift and fierce criticism from opposition parties, who denounced it as unfair and a deliberate attempt to exclude them from the electoral process.
On 17th April 2024, Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak, a South Sudanese critic and former refugee in Kenya, faced charges of criminal defamation before a county court in Juba. This happened after he reappeared in detention in South Sudan, under the control of the National Security Service (NSS). Prior to this, he had been forcibly disappeared under troubling circumstances in Kenya in February 2023, as previously reported on the Monitor.
Expression
On 28th March 2024, security agents abducted Kalisto Lado, the former head of the Juba City Council, from his home in Juba. Prior to this, he had spoken out against irregular land acquisitions benefiting powerful individuals. He is allegedly being held at the NSS headquarters in Juba without formal charges.
The disappearance of Michael Wetnhialic is a signal of misery faced by human rights activists in South Sudan.
— pachodo.org (@PachodoOrg) May 6, 2024
Link: https://t.co/BPwWSfuwMT #PachodoNews #SSOX #SouthSudan #SouthSudanese #SouthSudanNews #Sudan #EastAfricaNews #AfricaNews pic.twitter.com/0dVo2u6Nax
In March, the NSS summoned political activist Michael Wetnhialic and detained him, according to a relative. Authorities have failed to acknowledge his detention or provide any information regarding his situation or whereabouts. This marks the fourth occasion where Wetnhialic has allegedly been unlawfully detained for his criticism of the NSS agency and senior government officials on Facebook.