By Matik Kueth
At least 739 civilians lost their lives in South Sudan between January and March 2025, marking a severe surge in violence, according to a recent United Nations report.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recorded 679 injuries during this period, highlighting an alarming increase in civilian suffering.
Most attacks were attributed to community militias and local armed groups but organized armed forces and military personnel are also increasingly involved in harming civilians.
The report additionally notes that 149 women and children were abducted, while 40 individuals faced conflict-related sexual violence in the first quarter of the year.
This spike in violence represents the worst three-month stretch since 2020, with casualties and injuries nearly doubling compared to the last quarter of 2024. Abductions and sexual violence cases have also seen a slight rise.
Warrap State bore the brunt of the conflict, recording over 420 deaths and nearly 300 injuries. Meanwhile, Central Equatoria experienced a threefold increase in victims, with a notable rise in abductions.
Women and children remain the most vulnerable, with child victim numbers up by 50 percent, and females comprising the majority of sexual and gender-based violence survivors.
Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the UNMISS, emphasized the government’s duty to safeguard civilians.
“Protecting civilians and preventing conflict is the government’s foremost responsibility,” he stated.
He urged coordinated efforts at all levels, involving national authorities and international partners, to tackle the root causes, promote dialogue, and ensure accountability to break the ongoing cycle of violence.