United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has called on all stakeholders in South Sudan to recommit to the 2018 peace agreement in good faith and resolve differences through inclusive dialogue, amid growing political deadlock and escalating armed confrontations.
Speaking to the UN Security Council, Ambassador Asim Ifitkar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said, “It is time for renewal of national consensus. The cost of failure would be borne first and foremost by the South Sudanese people, and would also have profound regional consequences.” He emphasized the need for deeper engagement rather than distancing or abandonment.
Highlighting the crucial role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ambassador Ahmad stressed that the Mission must remain operational and robust at this critical juncture of heightened political uncertainty, inter-communal violence, and regional spill-over risks. He urged that UNMISS’ upcoming mandate renewal preserve its core capacities to support civilians and ensure the safety of UN personnel.
The Pakistani envoy also noted concerns over the operational impact of UNMISS’ ongoing liquidity crisis, warning that reductions in troop numbers and mission capacity could jeopardize protection of civilians and the safety of peacekeepers. Of the 17,000 troops sanctioned for UNMISS, only around 9,700 remain deployed.
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Ambassador Ahmad also highlighted the strain caused by the regional spill-over from Sudan, where approximately 1.3 million refugees have fled to South Sudan since April 2023, placing additional pressure on the country’s already fragile systems. He called for timely renewal of UNMISS’ mandate and full payment of assessed contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.
The UN established UNMISS to support South Sudan’s stabilization following outbreaks of fighting in 2013. Although a 2015 peace agreement collapsed, the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan was signed in 2018, leading to the formation of a transitional government.
Briefing the Security Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned that political deadlock among the main signatories continues to drive tensions, resulting in armed confrontations across the country. Violence has surged in recent weeks, especially in Jonglei State, displacing more than 280,000 people amid aerial bombardments, clashes, and restricted humanitarian access.
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Lacroix stressed that despite troop reductions, UNMISS continues to conduct political engagement, patrols, and deterrence operations to protect civilians. He cited UNMISS interventions in Unity State, where swift action prevented violence from escalating in internally displaced persons’ camps and along opposition frontlines.
“The presence of UNMISS matters,” Lacroix said, emphasizing the Mission’s critical role for civilians, humanitarian partners, and the peace process, and called for continued support from the Security Council.
