Press release
To the word bodies: IGAD, African Union, Troika, and the United Nations
December 26, 2024 (SSNA) — The South Sudan International Advocacy for Human Rights (SSIAHR) urgently calls upon the international community to intervene in the escalating cholera outbreak devastating Unity State, Bentiu, South Sudan. The outbreak has claimed countless lives in a short period, fueled by years of neglect, severe flooding, and unchecked environmental damage caused by oil operations.
Despite the dire situation, the central government of South Sudan has not responded meaningfully or taken action. President Salva Kiir’s administration’s continued inaction highlights a disturbing pattern of indifference. Instead of addressing the plight of affected communities, government efforts appear to focus on regions where the president’s own ethnic group resides, further exacerbating divisions and neglect.
A Dual Crisis: Health and Environment
Unity State has faced catastrophic flooding over the past few years, compounding the humanitarian crisis. Contaminated water sources and environmental degradation caused by oil operations have left communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks, including the current cholera epidemic. Livelihoods have been destroyed, children born are deformed, wildlife is dying, and local populations are left to suffer without adequate healthcare, food, or clean water.
The president has failed to advocate for these regions, offering no support to address the cholera outbreak, mitigate the environmental damage, or assist the flood-affected population. The government’s inaction is a betrayal of its duty to protect all South Sudanese citizens, irrespective of their ethnicity or location.
Concerns About the Peace Process
As the extended timeline of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) approaches its 2026 deadline, SSIAHR warns that the prospects for peace remain bleak. President Kiir has shown no intention of implementing substantive reforms or preparing for credible elections. The repeated excuse of a lack of funds for elections and security forces, while oil revenues continue to flow unchecked, raises serious concerns about governance and accountability.
Our Appeal
SSIAHR urges:
- Immediate international intervention to contain the cholera outbreak and provide relief to the affected communities.
- Pressure on the South Sudanese government to address environmental damage and implement measures to prevent further outbreaks.
- Accountability mechanisms to ensure the timely and transparent implementation of R-ARCSS and the preparation for free and fair elections.
The people of Unity State and South Sudan cannot wait. Their lives, dignity, and future depend on urgent and decisive action from the international community.
We express our deep condolences for the lives we have lost thus far, including the two most recent deaths of Pastor Matthew Mathiang Deng and Dr. Stephen Abram.
Peter Gatkuoth Wadar Kuel, President
South Sudan International Advocacy for Human Rights (SSIAHR)