(JUBA) – The government of South Sudan has renewed its demand for the closure of major United Nations peacekeeping bases in Wau and Bentiu, placing national sovereignty and state authority at the centre of discussions with the UN Mission in South Sudan. The position comes as the mission carries out a mandated reduction of troops and spending, a process with direct implications for security, local economies, and investor confidence in key states.
Foreign Affairs Minister Monday Semaya Kumba told diplomats in Juba that the government remains firm in its request for the closure of the UNMISS bases in Wau and Bentiu. He said South Sudan has already agreed to the closure of seven other UN bases, demonstrating cooperation with the drawdown while insisting that decisions on strategically important locations must respect national interests.
The Wau base, located in the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, and the Bentiu base, in the capital of Unity State, are among the largest and most logistically significant UNMISS facilities outside Juba. Beyond their security role, these sites support transport services, local suppliers, accommodation providers, and hundreds of jobs, making them important economic anchors in their respective states.
Kumba criticised UNMISS for what he described as a lack of prior consultation on a major contingency plan guiding the drawdown. He said South Sudan implemented the plan in good faith, but stressed that limited consultation does not align with the responsibilities owed to a sovereign host country. The matter has been raised directly with the UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix.
The government has rejected claims that it is obstructing the withdrawal of peacekeepers. According to Kumba, between 28 November and 10 December 2025, a total of 1,143 troops from Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India were repatriated. Nearly 2,500 additional troops are scheduled to leave by early January 2026, further reducing the UN security and economic footprint in several regions.
Summary of UNMISS Drawdown and Base Decisions
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Major bases under dispute | Wau and Bentiu |
| Smaller bases approved for closure | Torit, Aweil, Yei, Akobo, Koch, Bunj, Pariang |
| Troops repatriated (late Nov to mid Dec 2025) | 1,143 |
| Additional troops expected by Jan 2026 | Nearly 2,500 |
| UNMISS required budget reduction | 15 percent over six months |
| Main reasons cited | UN wide financial constraints |
Addressing a recent incident involving a cancelled Nepalese rotation flight, Kumba said the issue resulted from procedural irregularities on the UN side. He explained that the aircraft arrived with unauthorised personnel, but the government still approved the departure of the original contingent. The plane later left empty after UNMISS declined to proceed under the agreed conditions.
To oversee the drawdown process, a joint temporary technical committee has been established between the government and UNMISS. Officials in Juba describe the committee as constructive, even though disagreements remain over the future of the Wau and Bentiu bases.
UNMISS spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury said the mission is responding to a UN wide financial crisis that requires it to reduce spending by 15 percent over the next six months. She said the cuts involve closing and downsizing some field offices and smaller bases, reducing civilian and uniformed staff, and limiting operational expenditure.
Chowdhury acknowledged that these changes will affect UNMISS activities in support of South Sudan but said the mission remains committed to helping maintain peace and security for communities across the country.
UNMISS was established in July 2011 following South Sudan’s independence, under a UN Security Council mandate focused on stabilisation and institution building.
