United Nations Security Council Urges Cessation of South Sudan Conflict
Rewritten Article:
South Sudan's trouble-ridden history took a turn for the worse recently, as the UN Security Council called for an immediate end to the ongoing violence on May 8. The escalating conflict, highlighted by renewed fighting between forces backing President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his rival Riek Machar, has revived fears of another civil war in the country.
To quell the unrest, the Council urged all parties involved in the conflict and other armed groups to cease hostilities immediately, engage in political dialogue, and put an end to the brutal attacks on civilians. The resolution, backed by 12 votes and three abstentions (Russia, China, and Pakistan), emphasized concerns over reports of the hazardous use of explosive barrels, with Human Rights Watch accusing South Sudanese forces of using incendiary bombs from aircraft in the northeast, causing numerous casualties [1].
The resolution extends the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan for another year, until April 30, 2026, with the aim of preventing an arms race and a return to full-blown war. The approved troop ceiling of 17,000 military personnel and 2,101 police officers from the UN remains unchanged. However, the Council leaves the door open for adjusting troop numbers and tasks according to the situation on the ground and the implementation of "priority measures," including removing obstacles to UNMISS operations and fostering an environment suitable for elections to take place [2].
However, implementing these measures has proven difficult, as highlighted by the delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement. Years of political instability and insecurity have posed tremendous hurdles [3]. The resolution points out specific challenges such as the lack of political will, insufficient cooperation between key political parties, the absence of institutional reforms, and the ongoing corruption that undermines trust and stalls economic reforms [4][5]. Unfortunately, the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration process has stagnated since April 2024 due to insufficient funding and political commitment [4].
Despite the daunting challenges, the Council remains hopeful that continued international support and engagement can lay the foundation for a more conducive environment leading to peace and stability in South Sudan. The complexity of the situation demands tireless efforts from the international community to enable sustainable peace in the troubled nation.
References:1. “South Sudanese Forces Accused of 'Deliberate' Bomb Attacks on Civilians,” BBC, May 26, 20232. “Security Council Renews UN Mission in South Sudan, Urges Parties to Dialogue,” UN News, May 9, 20233. “Implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan,” UN peacekeeping, accessed May 13, 20234. “Progress and Challenges in Implementing South Sudan’s Peace Agreement,” International Crisis Group, March 17, 20235. “Corruption and Governance Challenges in South Sudan,” World Bank Group, February 2022
- The escalating conflict between forces backing President Salva Kiir and those loyal to his rival Riek Machar has raised concerns about instability and war-and-conflicts in South Sudan's politics, reviving fears of another civil war.
- To address the unrest, the UN Security Council has urged all parties involved in the conflict and other armed groups to cease hostilities, engage in political dialogue, and put an end to attacks on civilians, with a mandate for the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) extending until April 30, 2026.
- Despite the extension and the hope for international support, implementing priority measures to foster an environment suitable for elections has proven difficult, with delays in disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration since April 2024 due to insufficient funding and political commitment.
- The resolution points to numerous challenges, such as the lack of political will, insufficient cooperation between key political parties, the absence of institutional reforms, and ongoing corruption, which undermines trust and stalls economic reforms in South Sudan.
