South Sudan
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 2011
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 1
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 20, 2011 · The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
- News items in the archive
- 51
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
South Sudan is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 1 the year before. The archive holds 51 news items on South Sudan, from 2011 to today.
Latest news
- FEBRUARY 2, 2025South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN: SUDANESE TRADER HANGED FOR DEFILEMENT AND MURDER
A Sudanese trader who was convicted of defiling, murdering, and dumping the body of five-year-old Abuk Lual into a pit latrine in Aweil in 2022 was executed by hanging in South Sudan on January 29, 2025 at Wau Central Prison.
JANUARY 23, 2023South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: CABINET UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY
The Government of South Sudan has said it will not abolish the death penalty and insists it is a deterrent to prevent serious crimes, Africa-Press reported on 22 January 2023.
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2022South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN EXECUTES REBELS DEPORTED FROM SUDAN
South Sudan on 8 August 2022 executed rebel officers who were forcefully deported by authorities in Sudan, according to a video and pictures Sudan Tribune obtained after the execution.
JANUARY 10, 2022South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MAN HANGED FOR SLAUGHTERING THREE CHILDREN
Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, the young man accused of killing the three siblings at Rock City in Juba on 1st August 2020, was hanged on 7 January 2022 afternoon in Juba.
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2021South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN: 42 KILLED IN EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
The United Nations on 26 July 2021 demanded an end to extrajudicial killings in South Sudan after the execution of at least 42 people, including boys, in lawless parts of the country.
OCTOBER 27, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: BABU EMMANUEL SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
The High Court in Juba, South Sudan, on 26 October 2020 sentenced Babu Emmanuel Lokiri, the accused in the murder of three juvenile sisters, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murder.
- OCTOBER 15, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN: TWO CATTLE RAIDERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
A judge in South Sudan's Jonglei state on 13 October 2020 sentenced two men to death for stealing two cows and killing the man who owned the animals.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH FOR KILLING LECTURER
The military court martial in Juba on 18 September 2020 sentenced to death a police officer and a soldier accused of killing a lecturer early this year.
JULY 30, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MINOR REMOVED FROM DEATH ROW
Magai Matiop Ngong on 29 July 2020 was removed from death row following the South Sudan Court of Appeal’s decision on 14 July to quash the death sentence imposed on him because he was a child at the time of the crime.
- JANUARY 1, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
MARCH 12, 2019South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES THREE SOLDIERS TO DEATH FOR KILLING CIVILIANS
A South Sudan military court on 8 March 2019 sentenced three soldiers to death by firing squad, and a fourth to 10 years' imprisonment, for killing two civilians in their homes in robbery-motivated attacks last year.
MARCH 3, 2019South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SEVEN MEN INCLUDING MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY HANGED
South Sudan authorities executed at least seven people in February 2019 alone, three of whom were from the same family.
JANUARY 28, 2019South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING IN BOR
A High Court in Bor town in South Sudan’s Jonglei state on 21 January 2019 sentenced a man to death by hanging.
- JANUARY 1, 2019South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
DECEMBER 31, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: TWO MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING A KENYAN PRIEST
Two men were on 18 December 2018 sentenced to death for killing a Kenyan priest in Cueibet, South Sudan on November 15, at around 2 am.
DECEMBER 24, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING HIS CHILDREN IN BOR
A High Court in Jonglei State on 18 December 2018 sentenced to death a man who was found guilty of killing two of his children, two months ago.
DECEMBER 10, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SEVEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE CHILD, HANGED THIS YEAR
This year, seven people, including one child, were hanged, the highest number since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, according to evidence provided to Amnesty International by legal professionals and government officials.
- NOVEMBER 5, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN: PRESIDENT PARDONS TWO PROMINENT DEATH ROW INMATES
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on 31 October 2018 ordered the release of James Gatdet Dak the spokesperson of SPLM-IO leader.
- NOVEMBER 2, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTY
S SUDAN PARDONS DEATH SENTENCED S AFRICAN
South Sudan President Salva Kiir decided to pardon death sentenced South African William Endley, SAnews reported on 1 November 2018.
FEBRUARY 23, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SOUTH AFRICAN GETS DEATH PENALTY
A judge in South Sudan has sentenced South African citizen William John Endley to death by hanging, after he was charged with spying, illegal entry to South Sudan and conspiracy to overthrow President Salva Kiir's government.
- FEBRUARY 12, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN SENTENCES REBEL LEADER'S SPOKESMAN TO DEATH
A spokesman for South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar was sentenced to death on charges of treason and incitement against the government.
- JANUARY 1, 2018South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
OCTOBER 25, 2017South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: SPLA OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A soldier has been sentenced to death and several others convicted of crimes in Juba, according to the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) Spokesperson.
- JUNE 27, 2017South SudanDEATH PENALTY
Execution of two juvenile brothers
27th June 2017: two brothers, Orenga Tom Goro and his younger brother Ayela Philip Goro were put to death today at Juba Central Prison
- JANUARY 1, 2017South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
SEPTEMBER 23, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: DOZENS OF SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Dozens of South Sudanese soldiers were sentenced to death over abuses committed during the renewed
JULY 22, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: TWO SOUTH SUDANESE SOLDIERS EXECUTED IN WAU
South Sudan army’s (SPLA) 5th division in Western Bahr el Ghazal state executed two soldiers charged with murder and various crimes.
MAY 26, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: MAN SENTENCED TO HANG IN YEI FOR KILLING BODA-BODA RIDER
A court in Yei River County sentenced a 26 year old man to death by hanging, for killing a Boda-boda rider
- APRIL 18, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTY
two murder suspects, Marop Manguen and Majong Makom, were allegedly executed by firing squad on
two murder suspects, Marop Manguen and Majong Makom, were allegedly executed by firing squad on
- JANUARY 1, 2016South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011