South Sudan
Expected Council Action
In April, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in South Sudan. Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Nicholas Haysom will brief on the Secretary-General’s 90-day report on South Sudan and developments in the country.
The Council is also expected to renew UNMISS’ mandate before its expiration on 30 April.
Key Recent Developments
In mid-February, clashes erupted in Nasir County in Upper Nile state between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF)—the government’s forces—and local armed youth from the Nuer community, known as the White Army, which is linked to Riek Machar, South Sudan’s First Vice-President and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO). Tensions reportedly escalated after the government deployed additional forces to Nasir, including fighters from the Agwelek and Abushok militias. While the SSPDF described the deployment as a routine troop rotation, Machar argued that it violated the ceasefire and transitional security arrangements established by the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), leading to increased tensions and insecurity.
The situation worsened when fighting resumed in early March after the White Army seized control of an SSPDF base in Nasir on 4 March. On 7 March, a UN helicopter conducting an evacuation mission of SSPDF personnel came under fire, resulting in the death of one UN crew member and serious injuries to two others. According to UNMISS, the operation was carried out at the request of all parties involved, with assurances of safe passage for those trapped. Nevertheless, 28 SSPDF soldiers, including a general, were reportedly killed during UNMISS’ attempt to extract them.
In the wake of these violent clashes, the South Sudanese government reportedly detained several political and military figures aligned with Machar, including General Gabriel Duop Lam, the SPLM-IO’s acting chief of staff. Media reports also noted that government security forces had surrounded Machar’s residence.
On 11 March, Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, confirmed that the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) had deployed to Juba, South Sudan’s capital, following a request from the South Sudanese government. Subsequently, the SPLM-IO announced on 18 March the immediate suspension of its participation in key security and political mechanisms established under the R-ARCSS, citing the detention of its officials, escalating violence, and the presence of Ugandan troops in the country. On 23 March, Machar sent a letter to several senior UN officials, including Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, warning that issues with the R-ARCSS, particularly the presence of Ugandan forces in the country, could lead to the collapse of the agreement. He called on the UN Security Council, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AUPSC), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to intervene and urged the Ugandan government to withdraw its military forces from the country.
At the time of writing, the security situation in Nasir County remains precarious despite several calls from the international community to de-escalate tensions. In March, the South Sudanese army, reportedly supported by the UPDF, conducted at least two aerial strikes in the area, resulting in the deaths of several civilians and significant damage to residential areas.
On 18 March, Security Council members convened in closed consultations to discuss the recent outbreak of violence in South Sudan and its implications for UNMISS. Another issue raised during the consultations concerned the South Sudanese government’s request for UNMISS to vacate its Tomping base, located adjacent to the Juba International Airport, citing national security and development priorities. UNMISS has argued that the base remains essential for its operations, serving as an assembly area and evacuation staging site for UN personnel, humanitarian partners, and, upon request, diplomatic staff from various embassies in Juba. (For more information, see our 18 March What’s in Blue story.)
On 19 March, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed General James Koang Chuol as the governor of Upper Nile state. The SPLM-IO condemned this decision, arguing that the appointment was made without prior consultation and violated the agreement’s power-sharing provisions, which allocate certain positions to the SPLM-IO. Similar unilateral appointments in recent months, in which Kiir replaced opposition officials with his loyalists, have reportedly heightened tensions.
Human Rights-Related Developments
On 28 February, the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan presented its report to the UN Human Rights Council. Based on the Commission’s independent investigations conducted throughout 2024, along with engagements with South Sudanese authorities and open-source forensic analysis, the report highlights the role of the country’s political and military elites in perpetuating instability and extreme violence against civilians.
In a press release, Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka stated, “[s]exual violence persists both in and outside conflicts, while senior officials continue to endorse extrajudicial killings, and the forced recruitment and abduction of boys and girls into combat or sexual slavery remain unchecked.” Commissioner Barney Afako added that the Commission’s investigations revealed that the repetition of human rights violations is inextricably tied to “pervasive impunity, the lack of accountability in governance, and the failure to properly direct the country’s national wealth toward establishing credible institutions and systems”. The Commission highlighted the urgent need to recommit to the institution-building objectives outlined in the R-ARCSS.
In a 3 March press release, the Commission warned that escalating violence in the Upper Nile state, rising tensions in Juba, and ongoing political manoeuvres pose serious threats to the R-ARCSS. It emphasised that the current trajectory of instability, repression, and renewed conflict must not persist and urged all parties to the agreement, along with other South Sudanese stakeholders, to uphold their human rights obligations and commit to completing the transitional process.
Key Issues and Options
The main issue for the Council is how to prevent South Sudan from descending into civil war while addressing the structural issues that contribute to recurring violence and political instability. Although the revitalised agreement has so far prevented large-scale clashes, local violence persists, with recent unrest heightening fears of a return to a full-scale conflict.
A related issue is how UNMISS and the broader international community can continue supporting the transition amid increasing political fragmentation. Persistent delays in the political transition and deep mistrust among political leaders have hampered progress. Despite repeated extensions of the transitional period, the parties have failed to demonstrate the political will to implement critical benchmarks outlined in the R-ARCSS necessary for holding national elections, such as deployment of unified forces, civic education, election security, and voter registration. Furthermore, the lack of financial resources and delays in legal and political decisions continue to stall key processes.
The renewal of the UNMISS mandate is a key priority in April. Council members are likely to consider how to adapt the mission’s role in light of the country’s deteriorating political and security environment, particularly regarding technical assistance provided in support of the implementation of the revitalised agreement and the peace process. The upcoming closed consultations with Haysom, scheduled ahead of the mandate renewal, will provide an opportunity for Council members to engage in a frank exchange about the necessary adjustments to UNMISS’ mandate in response to evolving conditions on the ground.
The obstacles to UNMISS’s ability to fulfil its mandate and responsibilities, including restrictions on freedom of movement and violations of the status of forces agreement, continue to be an issue. Attacks against peacekeepers and civilian personnel remain a significant concern for Council members.
One option for Council members would be to request the Secretary-General to conduct an independent strategic review of UNMISS to assess the challenges to peace and security in South Sudan and provide detailed recommendations for the possible reconfiguration of the UNMISS mandate and its civilian, police and military components to account for developments in the peace process.
In April, the Council could also consider inviting a civil society representative to brief on the challenges facing South Sudan, including the implementation of the revitalised agreement.
The broader regional context also poses a serious challenge, particularly the spillover effects of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Recent media reports indicate that fighters from the Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese paramilitary, have retreated into South Sudan following territorial losses to the Sudanese Armed Forces. A recent clash between RSF fighters and SPLM-IO forces in Upper Nile state, which resulted in the deaths of senior SPLM-IO officials, has heightened concerns over potential cross-border alliances that could further destabilise the region. (For more information, see our 18 March What’s in Blue story.)
Members may consider convening an informal briefing with regional countries to discuss the conflict’s impact on the region.
Council and Wider Dynamics
On 21 March, Council members demonstrated unity in strongly condemning the attacks against UNMISS personnel and calling for those responsible to be held accountable. They called on the parties to the 2018 revitalised agreement to refrain from further violence, engage in national dialogue to restore and maintain peace, and to immediately de-escalate tensions. During the Council’s 18 March meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and some Council members apparently voiced concerns over the presence of Ugandan forces in the country, highlighting that their involvement could heighten tensions and exacerbate the security situation.
Council members share similar concerns about the delays in implementing the R-ARCSS, the ongoing sub-national and intercommunal violence, and the economic and humanitarian crises in South Sudan. Members, however, have diverging views about the context of the situation and the extent to which the Council can and should apply pressure on the parties to fully implement the peace agreement. Some members, such as the US, have been more critical than others about what they perceive as the South Sudanese government’s lack of political will to implement the R-ARCSS.
Other Council members—such as China, Russia, and the members of the “A3 plus one” grouping (Algeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Guyana)—are less critical of the government. In their statements, these members often highlight the progress made by the South Sudanese government amidst the challenges facing South Sudan, including the dire humanitarian situation, intercommunal violence, and the economic crisis. Some of these members, such as China and Russia, have argued that sanctions imposed on the South Sudanese government have hindered its ability to build and consolidate its security institutions and should be lifted or adjusted to support the country’s peace efforts.
Regarding South Sudan’s request for UNMISS to vacate the Tomping base, during the 18 March meeting, some members, such as Algeria and Somalia, highlighted the need to respect the host country’s sovereignty, recognise its legitimate needs, and address them appropriately. Meanwhile, several other Council members reiterated concerns raised by the mission, particularly regarding security risks, safety implications, and the high costs associated with relocation. Following the 18 March Council meeting, several members sent a demarche to the South Sudanese mission in New York, expressing concerns that the proposed changes could disrupt UNMISS operations and incur significant costs while urging constructive engagement.
In response to the recent surge in violence, both regional and international stakeholders have expressed deep concern over the escalating security situation, urging de-escalation, restraint, and constructive dialogue. Regional bodies—the AUPSC and IGAD—quickly convened and responded to the evolving political and security situation. IGAD decided to establish a ministerial-level sub-committee on South Sudan that would travel to Juba to conduct an assessment “on modalities of initiating an inclusive dialogue” on the status of the R-ARCSS and the Kenyan-led Tumaini initiative. However, in late March, the South Sudanese government abruptly postponed the visit of IGAD ministers without providing an explanation.
The US is the penholder on South Sudan.
UN DOCUMENT ON SOUTH SUDAN
| Security Council Resolutions | |
| 29 April 2024S/RES/2729 | This resolution renewed the mandate of UNMISS until 30 April 2025. |
