The United Nations has expressed serious concerns regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in South Sudan, as presented by Martha Pobee, the UN Assistant Secretary General for Africa. In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Pobee emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to support South Sudanese authorities in revitalizing the peace process delineated in the 2018 peace agreement.
Efforts to sustain the gains achieved through the agreement have faltered, leading to a significant erosion of trust in the peace process. Political tensions have been exacerbated by discord between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar, particularly following Machar’s house arrest in March. This ongoing discord has further stalled the agreement’s implementation.
Violence between militias loyal to Machar and government soldiers supporting Kiir has aggravated the humanitarian crisis. This conflict has resulted in fatalities, destruction of essential infrastructure, and widespread displacement. The renewed fighting has also disrupted oil production, a critical revenue stream for the nation, worsening economic conditions.
The gravity of the situation was further highlighted by a report indicating that approximately 9.3 million people are in need of aid, with 7.7 million facing food insecurity. Escalating sexual violence, attacks on humanitarian workers, and funding constraints are severely crippling efforts to address the crisis.
Pobee urged South Sudanese leaders to recommit to the peace agreement and prioritize security to facilitate elections by December 2026. She called on the Security Council to collaborate closely with South Sudanese stakeholders to avert further violence.
Hostilities have escalated since February, posing a substantial threat to the Revitalized Peace Agreement. This deal had previously ended the second Civil War, a conflict that primarily involved clashes between ethnic Dinka soldiers loyal to Kiir and Nuer soldiers supporting Machar. The renewal of hostilities has reignited fears of the peace accord’s potential collapse.
In an attempt to galvanize international response, the UN’s Human Rights Commissioner previously warned of the exacerbated humanitarian crisis due to resumed armed conflicts. Subsequent discussions by the UN Commission on Human Rights Council have reinforced the urgent need for global action to quell the persistent instability threatening South Sudan’s fragile peace.