Strife Ignites Once Again in South Sudan: The United Nations Calls for a Swift and Absolute Ceasefire
International Security Council Urges Instant Halt to Combat Activities in South Sudan - International Community Urges Immediate Ceasefire in South Sudan Conflict
In a recent turn of events, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has urged for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict that has once more engulfed South Sudan. The UNSC's call comes as they extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) by a year, until April 30, 2026.
The UNSC's decision, administered with 12 affirmative votes, maintained the initial troop and police strength cap of 17,000 troops and 2,100 police officers in UNMISS. However, the resolution subtly hinted at the potential for "modifications" to the troop count to adapt to the escalating situation. The resolutions garnered three abstentions from Russia, China, and Pakistan.
The present turbulence in South Sudan can be traced back to the rekindling of conflict between supporters of President Salva Kiir and followers of Vice President Riek Machar, who was arrested in late March. This renewed discord threatens the 2018 peace agreement, which brought an end to a five-year civil war, during which an estimated 400,000 lives were lost.
South Sudan, a young nation that seceded from Sudan in 2011, remains one of the poorest countries in the world, despite its vast oil reserves. The country's history of ethnic-based recruitment and violence, including allegations of ethnic cleansing during earlier civil wars, has exacerbated the current situation, raising fears of renewed attacks against civilians based on identity.
The latest escalation of violence in South Sudan can be traced back to the breakdown in power-sharing arrangements and the failure to implement key provisions of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, such as elections, army unification, and transitional justice. This conflict primarily involves the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by President Salva Kiir, predominantly supported by the Dinka ethnic group, and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by former Vice President Riek Machar and mainly backed by Nuer forces.
In early 2025, tensions reached a boiling point when President Kiir apprehended several SPLM-IO leaders in Juba, followed by clashes in the Upper Nile region, particularly in Nasir near the Ethiopian border. Here, armed ethnic Nuer militias, known as the White Army, associated with the SPLM-IO, invaded a South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) base, causing numerous casualties, including the death of a high-ranking SSPDF general and UN personnel trying to evacuate the troops. Since then, the recruitment by militias and government bombings against civilian areas have intensified.
The violence in South Sudan has driven the country closer to a returning civil war. Fueling the instability is the political rivalry between Kiir and Machar, refusals by Kiir's government to accept mediation efforts, and armed incursions and occupations of opposition strongholds like Nasir and Ulang, both predominantly Nuer areas. This conflict transpires against a backdrop of poverty, corruption, and mismanagement, which have made violence more lucrative than peace for elites. The ongoing war in neighboring Sudan and the subsequent economic crisis, including disrupted oil exports, are further complicating the political and security challenges.
In response, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has made an urgent call for a ceasefire to halt the ongoing violence in South Sudan. They have also expanded the mandate of UNMISS, which is the UN peacekeeping force deployed to shield civilians and facilitate peace implementation. The UNSC is currently contemplating modifications to UNMISS's troop strength to better cope with the intensifying violence and safeguard civilians amidst declining security conditions. These adjustments aim to bolster UNMISS's capacity to react effectively to the fluid and hazardous situation, including possible deployments to newly contested or volatile areas.
In conclusion:
- The ongoing conflict originates from SPLM against SPLM-IO animosity, ethnic tensions, and failed political engagements post-2018 peace agreement.
- Fighting intensified in early 2025 with armed militia attacks, government suppression, and spillover from Sudan's civil war.
- The situation worsens due to economic hardships, corruption, and external interference, pushing South Sudan towards a returning civil war.
- The UN Security Council has made an urgent plea for a ceasefire, expanded UNMISS's mandate, and is considering boosting troop numbers to enhance peacekeeping effectiveness and protect civilians.
The complexity of this conflict encompasses political, ethnic, regional, and economic dimensions, necessitating comprehensive international and regional efforts to restore peace and stability in South Sudan.
- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has requested an immediate end to the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, as they extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year.
- The ongoing discord between President Salva Kiir's supporters and Vice President Riek Machar's followers, which threatens the 2018 peace agreement, is the root cause of the escalating violence.
- The resolutions passed by the UNSC, which received 12 affirmative votes and three abstentions, suggest the potential for modifications to the troop count in UNMISS to adapt to the deteriorating situation.
- The intensifying violence in South Sudan necessitates swift action, including expanded UNMISS mandates and possible adjustments to troop numbers, to safeguard civilians and facilitate peace implementation in the face of declining security conditions.
