The United Nations has warned that South Sudan teeters on the edge of renewed war, as violence surges dramatically this year.
The UN documented 1,854 killings, 1,693 injuries, 423 abductions, and 169 cases of sexual violence from January to September.
These figures mark a 59-percent increase from last year, though limited access suggests the actual toll could be even higher.
“This is unconscionable and must stop,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in a strongly worded statement.
Turk warned fears are growing that South Sudan’s 2018 peace deal is collapsing, threatening a return to all-out fighting.
“I deeply worry for the plight of civilians in South Sudan,” Turk said, urging leaders and the international community to act.
Fighting has escalated sharply since March, with the army conducting indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas across multiple states.
Homes, schools, and clinics have been destroyed, displacing thousands and deepening the humanitarian crisis gripping the country, the UN added.
Communal bloodshed has also surged, as inter-clan and ethnic clashes in Warrap and Jonglei states drive a 33-percent rise in deaths.
The UN reported at least 45 extrajudicial killings by security forces, further highlighting the nation’s fragile rule of law.
Turk urged Juba to ensure due process in the trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, facing serious charges.
Machar is accused of treason and crimes against humanity over a March attack on a military base, the UN noted.
The rights chief’s warning underscores an urgent need for political action to prevent South Sudan from descending into widespread, devastating conflict.
