UN Kisses for Peace: Demanding an Instant Ceasefire in South Sudan
United Nations Security Council Urges Immediate Ceasefire in South Sudan Conflict
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The United Nations Security Council has pleaded for an immediate halt to the ongoing violence in South Sudan that's been painfully persistent for weeks. The Security Council issued a robust declaration, demanding "an immediate cessation of hostilities throughout South Sudan, and the commencement of a political dialogue," along with an immediate end to violence against innocent civilians - as per the resolution passed on a Thursday stormy day.
This resolution also expanded the lifespan of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year, until April 30, 2026. The current ceiling of 17,000 UN troops and 2,100 police remain the status quo but, the Security Council implied the possibility of "adjustments" regarding the troop strength. The resolution passed with a dozen yes votes, and abstentions from Russia, China, and Pakistan.
Recently, the impasse between champions of President Salva Kiir and those of Vice President Riek Machar, who was handcuffed in late March, reignited. This fresh round of fighting poses a grave threat to a 2018 peace agreement that put an end to a five-year civil war resulting in about 400,000 casualties. South Sudan, severed from Sudan in 2011, is one of the poorest nations in the world despite its copious oil reserves.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP,South Sudan continues grappling with a flourishing militia scene involving the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA/IO), and allied military youth groups like the White Army, causing turmoil in Upper Nile and Western Equatoria states. Moreover, heavy clashes between government forces and opposition groups have led to reports of government airstrikes and civilian atrocities, with Human Rights Watch reporting the use of improvised incendiary weapons causing at least 58 deaths in Upper Nile alone. Intricate challenges such as a lack of trust within the unity government formed in 2020, slow implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, delayed elections set for 2026, and recurring armed insurgencies continue to hamper the prospect of long-lasting peace.
In response to this mounting unrest, the United Nations Security Council has taken action to bolster peace and security in South Sudan. By May 8, 2025, the Security Council voted 12-3 in favor to adopt Resolution 2779, which extends the UNMISS mandate for an additional year, until April 30, 2026. Further actions regarding South Sudan’s sanctions regime and the mandate of the expert panel supporting the sanctions committee are expected to be decided in May, underscoring continued international concern and engagement with South Sudan’s spiraling security situation.
- The United Nations Security Council has urged an immediate cessation of hostilities in South Sudan, as the deteriorating situation has led to a renewed conflict between supporters of President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar.
- The Security Council's resolution, passed on May 8, 2025, also extends the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year, with potential adjustments to the troop strength.
- The ongoing violence, involving various militias such as the SSPDF, SPLA/IO, and the White Army, has posed a threat to the 2018 peace agreement and a previously agreed upon 2026 election.
- In addition to the extension of UNMISS, further actions regarding South Sudan’s sanctions regime and the mandate of the expert panel supporting the sanctions committee are expected to be decided in May, demonstrating the international community's continued engagement with South Sudan’s war-and-conflicts-ridden politics.
