The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has raised alarm over the deteriorating security and political situation in South Sudan, urging African leaders to take urgent action to prevent further escalation of conflict in the country.
Deputy Special Representative Guang Cong addressed the African Union Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa on Thursday.
He thanked the Council for holding its third session on South Sudan since the recent surge in violence and expressed appreciation for the African Union’s ongoing engagement, including high-level visits to Juba.
Cong reported that armed clashes have intensified, undermining key provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
He noted a growing pattern of ceasefire violations and unilateral political moves that threaten the integrity of the peace process and the unity government.
“The hard-won gains of the peace agreement are eroding. More than 130,000 people have been displaced since March, including tens of thousands who fled to Ethiopia,” Cong said.
“We are seeing the highest number of civilian casualties in a single quarter since 2020.”
He warned that the conflict appears to be evolving from localized violence to more organized, ethnically driven confrontations involving parties to the peace agreement and other armed actors.
The ongoing instability has also stalled progress on critical transitional tasks such as security sector reforms, constitution-making, and electoral preparations.
Despite public commitments by South Sudanese authorities to hold elections in December 2026, Cong stressed that the necessary groundwork remains unfulfilled.
The UN official urged the African Union to use its influence to press all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and recommit to the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
“South Sudan is at a critical juncture. There is still time to act—but only if the parties de-escalate the tensions and recommit to peace,” Cong said.
He concluded by reaffirming the United Nations’ continued partnership with the African Union and IGAD under their trilateral coordination framework, pledging to support inclusive dialogue and the full implementation of the peace agreement
 has raised alarm over the deteriorating security and political situation in South Sudan, urging African leaders to take urgent action to prevent further escalation of conflict in the country.){kind=link}