(NEW YORK) – The United Nations has warned that South Sudan is facing one of its most dangerous periods since independence in 2011, with peace efforts unravelling, violence increasing and a humanitarian emergency deepening.
Briefing the UN Security Council, Martha Pobee, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, said that the progress made earlier in the peace process has been largely eroded since March this year. She pointed to military offensives between rival forces aligned with President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, which have weakened trust in the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Murithi Mutiga of the International Crisis Group noted that the agreement was effectively undone when President Kiir placed Mr Machar under house arrest on 26 March, despite the peace deal requiring both leaders to work together.
The renewed violence has led to deaths, displacement and the destruction of key infrastructure. At the same time, South Sudan is hosting more than 1.2 million refugees fleeing the war in neighbouring Sudan, placing severe strain on already limited resources.
South Sudan’s economy, heavily dependent on oil, has also been badly affected. Fighting in Sudan has disrupted oil exports through Port Sudan, depriving South Sudan of its main source of foreign revenue.
The humanitarian outlook is worsening sharply. The UN estimates that 9.3 million people in South Sudan are in need of assistance, while 7.7 million face food insecurity. Among them, 83,000 are at risk of catastrophic hunger. Reports of sexual violence are also rising.
Funding shortages are compounding the crisis. By mid-2025, only 28.5 per cent of the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had been met. This has left millions of people without lifesaving support.
Aid workers also face increased risks, with attacks on humanitarian staff and obstacles caused by poor infrastructure and administrative restrictions.
The UN, the African Union, IGAD, and other international actors have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue, but with little progress from the parties.
Although the government has announced its intention to hold elections in December 2026, Ms Pobee said that declarations alone are not enough. She stressed the need for concrete steps towards dialogue and reforms to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
She warned that without such measures, South Sudan risks sliding back into full-scale violence, particularly given the wider instability in the region.
“The people of South Sudan are counting on us,” Ms Pobee told the Security Council, urging the international community to maintain its support.
| Key Humanitarian Indicators (2025) | Figures |
|---|---|
| People in need of assistance | 9.3 million |
| People facing food insecurity | 7.7 million |
| At risk of catastrophic hunger | 83,000 |
| Refugees from Sudan in South Sudan | 1.2 million |
| Humanitarian plan funding level | 28.5% |
