South Sudan is facing a catastrophic crisis if fighting in the war-torn country doesn't stop, UN experts said in a statement on Thursday.
Fighting between the government and the opposition in recent months has brought the world's youngest country back to the brink of all-out civil war.
"South Sudan stands at a critical juncture," said a group of 16 experts mandated by the United Nations.
"All parties must immediately cease hostilities and engage in meaningful dialogue to prevent further escalation of conflict and protect civilians," they said in a statement.
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but soon descended into civil war and remains mired in extreme poverty and corruption.
A 2018 power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival Riek Machar has been unravelling since early 2025, with clashes in multiple areas and fears of a return to full-blown war.
The scale and the severity of the violence has been alarming, including sexual violence against women and girls and mass displacement, the statement said.
"Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and aid workers must stop," the experts said.
"The reported destruction of water sources, as well as the looting and burning of homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship, are particularly alarming. If verified, they would constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes," they said.
"Without immediate and sustained support, millions risk being left without the assistance they need for survival," they said.
