Gov’t rejects UN human rights report, calls findings biased

2026-03-06 - 16:07

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth, has strongly rejected a recent report on South Sudan issued by the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying the findings were biased and lacked balance. The Minister made the remarks last week during the presentation of the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report, authored by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, accused the country’s political and military leaders of undermining the 2018 peace agreement. It alleged that officials have weakened governance and security safeguards, exposing civilians to renewed conflict and serious human rights violations. According to the report, airstrikes carried out by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, allegedly supported by Ugandan forces, have reached levels not seen since the pre-independence wars. Several bombings reportedly targeted areas declared hostile by the ruling party, including civilian homes, hospitals, and opposition sites. The report also repeated earlier findings from September 2025, accusing senior officials of large-scale corruption that diverts national revenues and weakens government institutions. However, the Minister rejected the findings, saying they rely heavily on social media information and do not fairly reflect developments in the country. “We strongly reject one-sided narrative that overlook the substantial progress made. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify and respond to the allegations of the commission against the government of South Sudan,” he said. He argued the report overlooks progress made in implementing the peace agreement and unfairly portrays the government’s efforts to stabilize South Sudan. “The commission has not been fair and honest in its reports on the human rights situation, political and security development in South Sudan. The commission has clearly interfered with the implementation of the agreement and supported the splinter breakaway,” he added. The commission called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, full implementation of the peace agreement, and compliance with South Sudan’s obligations under international law. But the Minister accused the commission of interfering with the peace process and supporting splinter groups opposed to the government.