South Sudan has formal police and courts, but crime response is fragmented and access varies by location. The South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, and state and county authorities handle investigations, prosecutions and protection. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and United Nations Police (UNPOL) provide supporting work such as patrols, community policing, human-rights assistance, investigation support and case preparation, but they do not replace the national authorities. Juba and other urban areas face risks including armed robbery, assault, carjacking, home invasion, shootings, pickpocketing, theft and fraud. Outside Juba, road ambushes, kidnapping, armed groups and cattle raiding are major concerns. Abduction, revenge attacks and intercommunal violence can affect women and children, while gender-based violence may include rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage. Trafficking, child recruitment, child marriage and forced labour also occur in the wider protection environment. Security conditions can change quickly. Avoid unnecessary movement at night, walking alone and public transport where safer transport is available. Minibuses, vans and boda-boda motorcycles can expose passengers to additional risk. Use pre-arranged private transport when possible, travel on main roads such as the Juba–Nimule road only during daylight with a security plan, keep vehicle doors locked and open windows only slightly. Avoid protests and large gatherings, and keep a plan for shelter, exit and communication. Checkpoints are common and may be official, unofficial or fraudulent. Do not try to bypass one. Follow instructions calmly, show requested identification and carry copies while keeping original documents with you. Do not hand over originals. If a checkpoint or crowd becomes threatening, leave the area when it is safe and contact the nearest SSNPS station or police post rather than confronting the people involved. Do not touch suspicious objects or possible unexploded ordnance. The police contact number 777 and the domestic-violence hotline 623 are toll-free, but there is no reliably consistent nationwide emergency and reporting system. A victim or witness can contact the nearest SSNPS station or police post. Report a traffic accident involving injury or death promptly. Give the location, time, people involved, injuries, vehicle details and available evidence. Police investigations can lead to prosecution and court proceedings, but delays, prolonged detention and case backlogs are documented. Mobile courts sometimes help with distance and backlogs, while customary courts and community mediation remain locally relevant but are not reliable substitutes for handling serious violence or gender-based violence. Military courts have jurisdiction over uniformed personnel rather than the general public. Survivors of gender-based violence can seek medical, psychological, legal and referral support through One-Stop Centers and Family Protection Centres where services are available. The Family Protection Centre at Juba Teaching Hospital provides rape treatment, psychological first aid, counselling and legal support. Availability outside major locations is uneven, and stigma, fear, transport problems, weak communications and funding gaps can prevent reporting. Medical treatment may cost money. Supported legal aid is often free, but it is not guaranteed everywhere; ask the service provider about current access, transport and accommodation support. Children have additional protections under the Child Act 2008. A child in police custody has rights to legal counsel and to make a complaint, and the police should notify a parent or guardian and a social worker. A medical examination should be arranged when the child reports an injury. Alternatives to arrest, diversion and restorative justice may be used, although implementation is uneven. Child-protection partners may provide case management, family tracing and reunification, and child-friendly spaces, but these services are not available in every area. Digital incidents can be reported to the South Sudan Computer Incident Response Team (SS-CIRT), the national cyber-incident focal point under the National Communication Authority (NCA), through its hotline, email or online form at cirt.gov.ss. SS-CIRT validates reports, analyses the incident and supports mitigation and recovery. It is primarily an incident-response service, so a suspected criminal offence may also need to be reported to the SSNPS. There is no evidence of a nationwide digital victim-support service or a guaranteed police handover. Published violence figures require careful interpretation. UNMISS recorded 1,019 conflict-related violence incidents affecting 3,657 civilians in 2024, including 1,561 deaths, 1,299 injuries, 551 abductions and 246 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. In the third quarter of 2025, it recorded 295 incidents affecting 1,153 civilians, including 519 deaths, 396 injuries, 159 abductions and 79 cases of conflict-related sexual violence. These figures are protection and violence indicators, not a complete national crime rate. The National Bureau of Statistics crime statistics database was still being updated, so comparisons across the country remain limited.
Crime in South Sudan
Crime risks in South Sudan differ sharply between Juba, other urban areas and rural roads. Juba has high risks of armed robbery, assault, carjacking, home invasion, shootings, theft and fraud, while travel outside urban areas can involve ambushes, kidnapping, armed groups and cattle raiding. Night travel, public transport and informal checkpoints create additional danger. Reporting and support exist through police, courts, specialized services and community channels, but coverage and response vary greatly by state, county and security conditions.
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