Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Wednesday that South Sudanese security forces have committed human rights violations against civilians, including arbitrary arrests and torture, under the pretext of a crackdown on criminal gangs. The organization urged the authorities to halt these actions and conduct thorough investigations into all alleged abuses.

HRW stated that South Sudanese security forces have been conducting a series of arbitrary arrests since late June 2025 under the guise of combating criminals in the capital of Juba. South Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch, Nyagoah Tut Pur, said: “Instead of responding to real concerns around criminality, the security forces have used this law enforcement campaign to commit serious abuses against marginalized children and young people.”

During these arrests, security forces subjected detainees to torture, ill-treatment, extortion, and forced conscription. The rights group added that abuses continued in detention facilities, where detainees were held in poor conditions, beaten, deprived of food and water, with additional cases of sexual violence against women and girls. Other detainees, including children, were also forced to join the military or were enrolled in combat roles. International human rights law prohibits the recruitment of children in armed conflicts and declares 18 as the minimum legal age for the conscription of children.

HRW noted that authorities did not inform the detainees’ families of their whereabouts and refused to provide information about whether they were conscripted or not, which could amount to enforced disappearances prohibited under international law.

Consequently, the rights group called on South Sudanese authorities to comply with their obligations under international human rights law and to cease their arbitrary arrests, end the forced conscription of children, and conduct thorough investigations into the perpetrated abuses. However, police forces rejected the claims of forced conscription and disappearances, asserting that the conducted operations specifically targeted criminals and that some detainees were simply moved to facilities outside of the capital due to overcrowding.

South Sudan has experienced an armed conflict since 2013 between ethnic groups loyal to President Salva Kiir and those supporting his rival, Vice President Riek Machar. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018, armed clashes have persisted, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis and the displacement of millions of citizens. In October 2025, the UN warned of a high risk of renewed conflict if attacks continued to escalate.

Additionally, the involvement of political leaders in corruption cases has further exacerbated the humanitarian situation. In September 2025, a court charged Riek Machar with murder and crimes against humanity for his involvement in assaults against security forces. The UN has also found that South Sudanese political figures diverted billions in public funds, depriving citizens of access to food and healthcare.