South Sudan Enabling Environment Baseline Snapshot

Reporting Period: May 2025 – April 2026

South Sudan is entering a critical political transition with elections scheduled in December 2026. This will be the first general election in the existence of the country, which became independent in 2011. The current transitional government has postponed the elections numerous times, in 2020 and 2024, but this year it is expected that they will proceed, based on President Kiir’s ruling party’s desire to consolidate power for easy transition. While these elections represent a milestone towards democratic governance, the environment for human rights defenders (HRDs), including women, journalists, civil society actors, and political actors/activists, remains highly repressive.

State actors, particularly the National Security Service (NSS), continue to curtail fundamental rights and freedoms. This is reflected in the restriction of political activities by opposition actors and individuals critical of government policies and practices. Media outlets are frequently closed or censored, while journalists and human rights defenders face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary detention. Even vocal political activists and members of parliament are targeted. Recent developments illustrate this pattern, including the treatment of anti-corruption critics, who have faced pressure and reprisals for speaking out, raising concerns about whether anti-corruption efforts are being used selectively, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 general elections. This trend is especially concerning as it signals a narrowing civic space during a critical electoral period.

Since January 2026, civil society members and media institutions in South Sudan have faced escalating attacks, including renewed clashes in Akobo County that have threatened some journalists and a media house, indiscriminate bombardments in opposition-held areas, and systematic intimidation documented by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan and Human Rights Watch reports. These incidents highlight a deteriorating security environment where journalists, activists, and civic groups are increasingly targeted.

Amidst an ongoing high-profile court case of the suspended first vice president, Riek Machar, and the seven co-accused, clashes between the government forces and opposition forces, particularly the main opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), are ongoing across the country. These clashes have caused a devastating humanitarian crisis and have seen threats to media houses or civil society actors reporting about it. In the report by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan in March 2026, political and military leaders are accused of systematically dismantling the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement with increasing risk of mass atrocity crimes, intimidation of civil society organisations, and harassment of journalists. 

A Human Rights Watch report in April 2026 that documented the impact of the crisis since late 2025 recorded indiscriminate aerial bombardment, intensified clashes - not only in the Greater Upper Nile but across the country -  resulting in civilian deaths, destruction of property, and threats to media houses and civic institutions. Concerningly, the recent uncovering of human remains by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) during road rehabilitation in Jonglei indicates the level at which true records of loss cannot be identified.