Südsudan

A United Nations report warns that the slow implementation of a revitalised peace accord in South Sudan risks pushing the country back into a “large-scale conflict”.

David Shearer said Wednesday he's leaving the top U.N. job in South Sudan convinced the world's youngest nation has the potential to become a tourist destination to rival any country in East Africa and the oil and mineral riches to spur economic progress — if it can eliminate corruption and establish a transparent and open government.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said Tuesday it plans to reduce troop numbers by seven percent this year, due to a drop in violence in the conflict-torn country. UNMISS chief David Shearer said the drawdown is also a result of UN troops withdrawing from camps where civilians had sought protection during the country’s six-year civil war, handing control of the sites to Juba.

78 percent of killing, injuries, abductions and other forms of violence were committed by community-based militias in South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in the country said. The shocking revelations are contained in an “Annual Brief on Violence Affecting Civilians” released by Human Rights Division of UNMISS, which documented last year’s killing of 2,421 civilians.

A string of deadly road attacks in South Sudan, including one on a governor’s convoy returning from the scene of an earlier attack, have left nearly 30 people dead.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has not been immune. The peacekeeping mission implemented strong prevention measures well before COVID-19 arrived in the country. Despite that – like everywhere else in the world – our personnel have contracted the virus, and six have sadly lost their lives. UNMISS is working in partnership with the Government of South Sudan in the national-led response.

As hunger levels continue to deepen in South Sudan due to a combination of violence, climate change and COVID-19, the 2021 South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan was launched on Tuesday aiming to reach 6.6 million people – including 350,000 refugees - with life-saving assistance and protection.

South Sudanese civilians are caught in a perfect storm of ongoing suffering and misery.  The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan reports the country's humanitarian crisis is being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and floods, as well as the highest levels of food insecurity and malnutrition in a decade. This, on top of escalating violence and rampant human rights violations.    

The United Nations Security Council on Monday extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until March 15, 2022 after the unanimous adoption of resolution 2567 (2021).

South Sudan is highly vulnerable to climate change, including flooding, droughts and, most recently, a locust infestation. Long-term climate change, like a gradual increase in temperature, and short-term changes, like increased flooding, have indirect and interlinked implications for peace and security in South Sudan.