Protecting Civilians is Key for Achieving Peace in South Sudan

South Sudan’s warring parties have signed a new peace deal that we hope will signal an end the country’s bloody conflict.  Since violence erupted in the East African nation in 2013, a third of its population has been displaced, and 2.5 million are living as refugees in neighboring countries.  The United Nations estimates that 7.1 million of those remaining in South Sudan face severe food insecurity, and its peacekeeping mission issued a report last month documenting egregious human rights abuses, including sexual violence and torture. 

Signing a new political agreement is an important step, but implementing it and maintaining peace will be the bigger challenge.  To complement its diplomatic advocacy for a more sustainable peace arrangement, the U.S. government should promote stability and protect the South Sudanese people by recommitting to the provision of lifesaving assistance, pressuring the parties to the conflict to ensure humanitarian access, and supporting conflict prevention and mediation at the local level.