A new report from the country’s peace monitoring commission has raised alarms about a major and rapid decline in security across South Sudan, citing a rise in violence and deep political instability.
The quarterly report, released Thursday, details a troubling escalation of clashes between July and September among groups that were signatories to the 2018 peace agreement. The violence has now affected half of the nation’s ten regional states.
The security situation has become so dire in some areas that peace monitors stated they have been unable to safely investigate reported ceasefire violations, hindering oversight of the fragile peace process.
The unrest is being compounded by the ongoing trial in Juba of Vice President Riek Machar and his supporters, an event the report indicates is deepening already tense political divisions. This political crisis has directly impacted governance, with the report noting that cabinet activity has ground to a halt, reportedly not meeting since March following Machar’s detention.
Further complicating the peace process, the report highlights that several of Machar’s top military allies have fled the country out of fear of arrest.
Meanwhile, the administration of President Salva Kiir is facing criticism for its recent appointment of more than 20 new judges. The report notes this was done without the opposition’s input, a move that violates the power-sharing agreement central to the 2018 peace deal and signals a significant setback for national unity.
