The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has raised alarm over a sharp increase in civilian deaths and conflict-related sexual violence during the first three months of 2026, warning that the worsening humanitarian situation demands urgent action to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable.
According to UNMISS’s latest quarterly brief on violence affecting civilians, 767 civilians were killed between January and March 2026, representing an 89 percent increase compared to the previous quarter.
Although the total number of documented violent incidents declined slightly, the report reveals that the impact on civilians became significantly more severe.
UNMISS documented 206 incidents of conflict-related violence affecting 1,388 civilians, including 1,049 men, 215 women, 82 boys and 42 girls.
Among the victims, 767 were killed, 457 injured, 93 abducted, while 71 people survived conflict-related sexual violence.
The report shows that while violent incidents fell by four percent compared to the final quarter of 2025, the total number of civilian victims increased by 67 percent.
Cases of conflict-related sexual violence also continued to rise, increasing by 31 percent from the previous quarter and 78 percent compared to the same period last year. UNMISS said the figures point to the continued use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
The mission further documented 34 incidents of sexual and gender-based violence during the reporting period.
Speaking on the findings, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, Anita Kiki Gbeho, said every casualty represents a human life devastated by violence.
“Every statistic in the report represents the impact of continued violence on human lives, underscoring the urgent need for all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” she said.
Gbeho urged all parties to the conflict to allow humanitarian and human rights personnel unrestricted access to affected communities.
“We reiterate our call to all parties to guarantee UNMISS safe, unhindered access to affected areas, so that violations can be documented, investigations pursued, and accountability delivered.”
The report comes amid renewed insecurity in several parts of South Sudan, where intercommunal violence, armed clashes and localized conflicts continue to threaten civilian lives despite the country’s ongoing political transition under the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
UNMISS has repeatedly called on national and local authorities to strengthen civilian protection, investigate human rights violations, and ensure those responsible for attacks against civilians are brought to justice.
