South Sudan

The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) are listed in the annex of the Secretary-General’s (SG) latest annual report (S/2024/384) on children and armed conflict (CAAC) for recruitment and use, killing and maiming, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and abduction. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition – pro-Machar (SPLM/AIO – pro-Machar) is also listed for recruitment and use, killing and maiming, and abduction. According to the SG’s annual report on CAAC, the UN verified 236 grave violations against 221 children in South Sudan in 2023, as well as an additional 75 grave violations that occurred in 2022. Recruitment and use was the most prominent violation, accounting for almost half of the verified violations (152 children). The UN also verified the killing and maiming of 47 children, sexual violence against four girls, the abduction of 32 children, and one incident of the denial of humanitarian access. In August, the Security Council is expected to discuss the SG’s latest report on UNMISS, which was circulated in late July pursuant to SCR 2729 (2024). The Security Council should:

• Urge the Government and parties that have endorsed the 2020 Comprehensive Action Plan to fully and swiftly implement their commitments, and call on the Government to allocate sufficient budgetary resources to support its implementation;
• Urge all parties to immediately cease all grave violations against children, to facilitate humanitarian assistance and protect humanitarian personnel, and to release and hand over all children from their ranks to civilian child protection actors;
• Call on all parties to take immediate and concrete steps to end and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, ensure survivors have access to comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and age-appropriate response systems and services, and strengthen preventive measures;
• Urge the Government toend impunity for grave violations against children through timely and impartial investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution; urge allocation of appropriate resources to ensure survivors of grave violations have access to justice, including for rape and other forms of sexual violence; and designate a focal point on CAAC in the Ministry of Justice;
• Call on all parties to swiftly and fully implement the recommendations of the SCWG-CAAC, as elaborated in its fourth conclusions on South Sudan;
• Maintain sufficient UNMISS child protection capacity to fully deliver on its child protection mandate, per SCR 2729 (2024).

THE UNITED STATES IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON SOUTH SUDAN.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – August 2024.

Year listed: 2007
Action Plans signed: SPLA – recruitment and use of children (November 2009; renewed in March 2012 as the national armed forces of South Sudan; recommitted in June 2014); SPLA/M-in Opposition – recruitment and use of children and killing and maiming (December 2015); Comprehensive action plan covering all grave violations replaces previous action plans for SPLA and SPLA-IO as of February 2020.
Sanctions Committee: South Sudan Sanctions Committee (Current Chair: Viet Nam)
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in South Sudan: 2020; 2018; 2014; 2011; 2009; 2007; 2006
Security Council Working Group conclusions on South Sudan: 2021; 2018; 2015; 2012; 2009; 2008; 2006
UN Mission: UNMISS