By Emiola Osifeso
The United Nations Security Council will, on Tuesday morning November 11th, hold an open briefing and closed-door consultations on the situation in South Sudan and the work of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, is expected to brief on the Secretary-Generalโs latest 90-day report, which was circulated to Council members on 4 November and covers developments from 16 July to 15 October. UN Women Executive Director, Sima Sami Bahous, is also billed to brief, while a civil society representative may equally make presentations. Prior to the meeting, nine signatories to the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) are expected to read a joint statement on the issues in South Sudan, although the United States will not participate in this joint message.
South Sudan continues to face heightened internal instability because of persistent violations of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, with the implementation of key provisions stalled and political arrangements under the deal almost entirely eroded. The Secretary-Generalโs report shows that power-sharing structures have collapsed, while unilateral political reshuffles have removed representatives of the Sudan Peopleโs Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) and replaced them with members of a splintered faction, prompting the SPLM-IO to rebuild its own governance structures in regions under its control. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has continued to reshuffle cabinet and military heads in his own faction without any explanations provided, leading analysts to suggest that his motives are rooted in attempts to consolidate power and weaken opposition.
The security situation remains fragile and volatile, with escalated confrontations between the South Sudan Peopleโs Defence Forces (SSPDF) and SPLM-IO forces, alongside other armed groups. According to the report, government forces conducted repeated aerial and river attacks in several states, leaving dozens dead, many injured and several abducted. Counterattacks by SPLM-IO and the allied White Army have also been recorded, while attacks on civilians and humanitarian personnel continue across Equatoria regions. Experts warn that South Sudan is dangerously sliding back to the brink of another civil war, with the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan insisting that the peace process is being dismantled in plain sight.
At the Tuesday briefing, calls are expected to be made for a return to the ceasefire, restraint from all parties and full implementation of the peace deal, especially the transitional security arrangements. There are also expectations that emphasis will be placed on the need to respect sanctions and adhere strictly to the arms embargo. Council members may also demand the release of political detainees including First Vice-President Riek Machar and seven SPLM-IO officials currently facing charges ranging from murder to treason. Transparency and adherence to international due process standards are expected to be raised.
In addition, the Secretary-Generalโs report highlights numerous violations of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), with 129 SOFA-related incidents recorded within a three-month period, mostly due to government restrictions on UNMISS patrols. Council members may condemn these actions and reaffirm support for UNMISS, while demanding unhindered access and adequate resources for the mission.
The worsening humanitarian crisis is also a central matter of concern, with new projections showing that over half of South Sudanโs population will face crisis-level hunger during the 2026 lean season, while more than two million children could face acute malnutrition. Severe flooding, intensified conflict, and the spillover effects from the Sudan crisis are worsening conditions. Violent incidents targeting humanitarian workers have disrupted aid delivery, with over 140 cases documented in the reporting period. The Secretary-Generalโs report also documented incidents of conflict-related sexual violence affecting women and girls, with concerns raised about rising gender inequality and failure to meet gender quotas in governance.
Another looming challenge that will feature prominently in Tuesdayโs meeting is the UN-wide financial crisis affecting peacekeeping operations. Lacroix has already warned that UNMISS must cut spending by 15 percent, meaning a significant reduction in uniformed personnel and their equipment. South Sudanโs government has requested that any cuts should mainly apply to international staff and also called for UNMISS aircraft with surveillance capabilities to be grounded immediately. Concerns are expected to be expressed on how these austerity measures will affect UNMISS operations at such a politically critical and volatile time for South Sudan.
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