On 13 June 2026, South Sudan’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) issued new directives under circular number 06/2026 restricting non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations from engaging in activities deemed “political.” This includes work related to governance reforms, peace and stability, constitutional awareness, electoral educations, and anti-corruption advocacy work-but sticking to role described under chapter 2, section of the NGO Act, 2016 that only allows humanitarian work.
Despite the circular not distinctively bringing out the areas the NGOs and CBOs are restricted to work on, the circular came as a result of recent development where a group of youth activists in Aweil were detained for holding placards petitioning the head of states to free political detainees. Equally, the circular postdates the warning by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson to civil society actors in April to desist from reporting matters concerning security of the country.