South Sudan

South Sudan’s transition remains unfinished, not only because of weak institutions, repeated political crises, and a lack of political will, but also because the country has yet to agree on a shared common ground. At the heart of the problem is a deeper question: what kind of state, system of governance, and form of citizenship should define South Sudan?

From a police station in Germany to the UN Mission in South Sudan, Stephanie Königs has been talking to UN News about her journey to becoming a peacekeeper – and the importance of trust and empathy in the field. 

South Sudan rejected U.S. criticism of its political leadership on Monday and renewed calls for the lifting of U.N. sanctions and an arms embargo, saying the measures undermine efforts to implement the 2018 peace deal and strengthen state institutions. 

South Sudan’s ceasefire monitoring body on Thursday said it recorded 29 new allegations of ceasefire violations in April, warning that insecurity continues to threaten the country’s fragile peace process.

Tensions are flaring between the United States and South Sudan. On a visit to Juba last week, the head of the US State Department Bureau of African Affairs Nick Checker urged South Sudanese authorities to "take urgent action to restore peace."

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) expressed concern over the continued house arrest of South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, urging coordinated international efforts to sustain the country’s fragile peace process.

The European Union’s top diplomat in South Sudan has warned that the country’s long-awaited elections may fail to take place in December this year if current political, security and technical conditions remain unchanged.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Wednesday night sacked three key ministers and senior security officials. No reasons were given … . 

The Security Council adopted resolution 2820 (2026) today, extending the mandate of the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 April 2027.  The text passed by a vote of 13 in favour, none against, and 2 abstentions (China, Russian Federation), with speakers voicing concern over the mission's its reduced troop and police ceilings, which some said will impact the safety and ability of peacekeepers to carry out their mandate. Others drew attention to the mission’s curtailed role in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. 

[…] As part of the initial support package, the two sides agreed that three members of the National Elections Commission would travel to Russia for training.