The United Nations raised concerns about the rise in extrajudicial executions in South Sudan, reporting that 39 individuals, including a child, were executed by firing squad this year alone.
UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan expressed alarm over the situation, highlighting that people are being executed without trial for alleged offenses ranging from murder to domestic disputes.
Between January 2023 and June 2024, a total of 76 people, including two children, were executed by firing squad. The increase in executions is distressing, with 39 deaths occurring in the first half of 2024 alone.
Extrajudicial executions violate fundamental rights to life and due process. The UN calls for an immediate end to these practices and urges the South Sudanese government to conduct thorough investigations and hold those responsible accountable.
South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, continues to struggle with violence and political instability. Despite a 2018 peace deal, the country faces ongoing conflict, flooding, and poverty, hindering its development.