South Sudan activists are increasingly worried about the growing restrictions on media freedom and political space in the country. The national human rights body has expressed deep concern over the continued arrests of human rights activists and journalists by national security forces.

Ter Manyang Gatwich, the executive director of the Centre for Peace and Advocacy, has condemned the unlawful arrests of human rights advocates and journalists. In an audio message shared with journalists on WhatsApp, he voiced his alarm over the ongoing restrictions on civil and political freedoms. Gatwich called on the government to amend existing laws to ensure full participation of civil society in the nation’s leadership and to prioritise the safety of media personnel.

Gatwich highlighted specific incidents, including the arrest of photographer Aberham from South Sudan National TV and Mr. Bol Deng, chairman of Jonglei Civil Society. He stated that the Centre for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) has documented numerous cases of human rights violations and media suppression by security authorities. Gatwich warned that South Sudan’s record on human rights integrity has been severely damaged, and such violations must not be repeated.

Since the outbreak of war in 2013, South Sudan has struggled with severe human rights abuses. These abuses have undermined the ability of the national human rights body to hold government officials and security personnel accountable. Many human rights activists have fled the country, seeking political asylum in Western nations due to fear for their lives.

As South Sudan moves towards elections in December, the path remains unclear. Despite government efforts to push for elections, rival parties in the revitalised peace agreement are at a deadlock, arguing that time is very limited for a free and fair election. Additionally, the country is facing economic difficulties, making it challenging to pay civil servants’ salaries on time.