Südsudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed alarm over a series of violent clashes between armed actors in the country’s Central Equatoria state.

The number of Sudanese refugees in South Sudan has surpassed half a million, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, announced on Friday, as ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan continues to drive massive displacement. … “The conflict in Sudan is hitting South Sudan harder than any other country in the region and adds to the immense challenges the nation is facing,” said Marie-Helene Verney, UNHCR Representative in South Sudan.

UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom held his first press briefing today (9 Oct) after the country’s leaders announced an extension of the ongoing transitional period and said, “They must make this latest extension count.” The extension has moved South Sudan’s bid to hold its first ever democratic elections back by two years to December 2026.

[…] South Sudan’s postponed elections are a clear symptom of a deeper crisis in governance, politics and leadership. Without addressing the structural issues that have long plagued the country, the cycle of delays, elite-driven negotiations, and fragile peace will continue.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat has renewed his call for concrete steps to fully implement the Revitalized Agreement to the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The United States, the United Kingdom and Norway expressed "deep concern" on Saturday at the announcement of a two-year delay in elections in South Sudan, terming the extension of a transitional government a "failure." … Earlier this week, the United Nations expressed "regret and disappointment" at the delay.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom said the United Nations stands ready to support the transitional process in South Sudan. … “I emphasize that the Transitional Government and the South Sudanese political class must take responsibility for the failures of the past two years,” Haysom stated.

Sudan and South Sudan unveiled a joint security plan on Saturday aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted flow of oil to international markets, a crucial lifeline for both nations’ economies.

South Sudan's parties to the 2018 peace agreement have extended the transitional period by another two years, delaying the country’s first anticipated democratic elections that had been scheduled for this December.

[…] Since Kenya launched the talks between Kiir’s government and exiled opposition leaders in Nairobi in May, negotiations have focused on rebooting the 2018 deal, extending the deadline for its implementation and greenlighting a delay in the polls. ­ In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Daniel Akech assesses how the talks are progressing.