PRESS RELEASE: Sharp rise in civilian deaths recorded in UNMISS report underscores urgent need for accountability in South Sudan

JUBA - Despite a modest decline in the number of documented incidents, civilian casualties remained high in the first quarter of 2026, with killings and sexual violence rising significantly amid ongoing armed conflict, according to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) latest quarterly brief on violence affecting civilians.

Between January and March 2026, the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Human Rights Division documented 206 incidents of conflict-related violence affecting 1,388 civilians, of which 1,049 were men, 215 women, 82 boys, and 42 girls.

Of those affected, 767 were killed, 457 were injured, 93 were abducted, and 71 were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

While the total number of incidents fell by four percent compared with the previous quarter (October–December 2025), the overall number of victims rose sharply by 67 percent. The number of civilians killedsurged by 89 percent and those injured by 73 percent. The number of CRSV survivors rose by 31 percent quarter-on-quarter, and by a 78 percent compared with the same period in 2025, a trend that reflects the deliberate use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. The report additionally documented 34 incidents of sexual and gender-based violence during the same period.

“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,” said Anita Kiki Gbeho, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS.

“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.”

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Contact: UNMISS Spokesperson, Priyanka Chowdhury at chowdhury20@un.org or unmiss-spokesperson@un.org