Opponents in South Sudan, including the main opposition party SPLM-IO and civil rights activists, are united against a security bill that grants the National Security Service powers to arrest and detain without warrants, stifling dissent. Western governments, including the U.S. and Britain, criticized the bill, warning it could undermine political and civic space crucial for upcoming elections. The bill's approval could jeopardize peace talks and lead to arbitrary arrests, with calls for President Salva Kiir to veto it within 30 days. The UN Commission on Human Rights urged the bill's rejection, emphasizing the risk of escalating repression and human rights violations, urging alignment with international human rights standards. The bill's contentious provisions have stalled peace negotiations, raising concerns about fundamental rights violations and shrinking political freedoms in South Sudan.