By Matik Kueth
South Sudan teeters on the brink once again, not solely because of internal strife, but because of a glaring absence of regional accountability and enforcement.
While renewed clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands and threatened to unravel a fragile peace agreement, experts say the solution lies not only in mediation but in concrete action: justice.
The United Nations on Human Rights in South Sudan warned that corruption, stalled reforms, and leadership failures are fueling renewed violence.
But behind the warnings, the African Union (AU) and regional partners hold the keys to preventing another catastrophic war.
“The region has the mandate and the moral responsibility to act decisively. A Hybrid Court for South Sudan isn’t just a legal tool; it is a lifeline for a country drowning in cycles of impunity,’’ Commissioner Yasmin Sooka said.
With over 2.5 million South Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries and millions more internally displaced, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen.
Yet, the Commission argues, these human tragedies are preventable if justice mechanisms are activated and leaders are pressured to uphold peace commitments.
Commissioner Barney Afako emphasized that the repeated failure of South Sudan’s leadership is compounded by a lack of sustained regional engagement.
“Unless there is coordinated political action, the country risks sliding into full-scale war. This is not an inevitability; it is a choice the region can influence,” he stated.
The upcoming meetings of the AU Peace and Security Council and the U.N. Security Council in Addis Ababa represent a critical window.
Moving the Hybrid Court from concept to reality could break the cycle of violence, restore confidence in governance, and provide a foundation for lasting peace.