South Sudan: Elections Minus Safeguards Could Fuel Renewed Atrocities, Warns UN Commission

What the report says

A UN human rights commission has warned that South Sudan is approaching its first national elections since independence without the political, security and human rights protections needed for a credible and peaceful vote. The warning, reported by AllAfrica from Geneva, comes ahead of elections scheduled for Dec. 22, which would be the country’s first national poll since 2011.

According to the commission’s advisory, several danger signs are lining up at once, including renewed armed conflict in parts of the country, shrinking civic space, weaker constitutional safeguards, limited accountability and the continued exclusion of many people from meaningful political participation. The commission said these conditions raise the risk that the election period could deepen divisions rather than support democratic change.

The report argues that holding a vote without a broader strategy for democratic consolidation could increase the chance of renewed conflict and possible atrocity crimes. Commission chair Yasmin Sooka said South Sudanese should be able to vote freely and safely, and that an election should give people a voice rather than expose them to danger.

South Sudan, the world’s newest internationally recognized state, gained independence in 2011 after separating from Sudan. The UN commission’s concern is not whether elections should take place, but whether they can be conducted in a way that protects voters and helps stabilize the transition.