Africa News 24 Pretoria Bureau
JUBA, South Sudan – The UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, has called on the United Nations Security Council to urgently ensure the successful implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement.
This will mark the beginning of its fourth extension this February 2025.
“While the people of South Sudan have been patient, there is no appetite for another extension,” Mr Haysom stated, highlighting the mounting public frustration with delays in the peace process.
The UN Special Representative stressed the strong desire for South Sudan’s leaders to focus on the agreed benchmarks and avoid any further postponements. “There is a strong desire for the leaders to focus on the benchmarks set out in the Peace Agreement without further delay.”
Haysom highlighted significant, though insufficient, progress in several key areas, including civic and political space. “I note the commitments made at the 2024 Governors Forum, including a resolution calling for the repeal of sections 54, 55, and 57 of the National Security Services Bill in support of civic and political space,” the UN Special Representative said, commending the governors’ collective efforts to expand civic freedoms. He further praised UNMISS’s support in facilitating dialogue among government institutions, political parties, and marginalised groups, fostering crucial conversations on topics like constitution-making, federalism, and transitional justice.
A key development noted by Haysom was the deployment of mobile courts in conflict-affected areas, an important shift toward more localised justice systems. “In Bentiu, the Unity State government deployed a mobile court for the first time using its own resources. This is a shift from the reliance on ad hoc, Juba-based interventions to a more sustainable, localised justice delivery system,” he remarked. UNMISS-supported mobile courts have also been dispatched to Renk to hear over 100 cases, including those of sexual and gender-based violence.
On security, the UN Special Representative lauded the long-awaited adoption of the framework for managing South Sudan’s security sector, which aims to ensure civilian oversight of the armed forces. He also welcomed the launch of the National Community Violence Reduction Strategy. “I report the long-delayed adoption of the framework for the management of the security sector. This would eventually provide for the institutional management and civilian oversight of the armed forces,” he affirmed.
However, despite these advancements, Haysom cautioned that critical milestones necessary for holding elections and adopting a new constitution remain unmet. “We have not yet seen the previously promised harmonised work plan with an operational timetable for elections,” he remarked. “The clock is already ticking on the extended transitional period. Decision-makers need to tackle several issues simultaneously and immediately.”
Highlighting the urgent need for government action, UN Special Representative pointed to delays in electoral processes and the lack of clarity on when essential decisions would be finalised. “The constitution-making and census timelines do not currently fit into the framework for a December 2026 election,” he warned. “The lack of government funding and delayed legal and political decisions are slowing these processes down.”
Haysom stressed the importance of a unified approach from the international community and regional partners, urging that South Sudanese leaders demonstrate their political will to accelerate peace implementation. “A unified approach by the regional and international community should be clear to all the stakeholders on the need to avoid another extension,” he stated, adding that resources for peace implementation would be contingent on visible progress.
As South Sudan continues to grapple with humanitarian and security challenges, the UN Special Representative acknowledged the recent spillage of conflict from neighbouring Sudan, particularly unrest in Juba following reports of South Sudanese casualties in Wad Madani. “I acknowledge the South Sudanese government for its swift response in providing safety for Sudanese nationals seeking refuge from potential retaliatory attacks,” he said, while also noting the negative impact of ongoing violence on civilians.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, with over one million refugees fleeing the Sudan conflict, adding to the already significant number of South Sudanese in need of assistance. “South Sudan has been a haven for people fleeing the Sudan conflict since April 2023,” the UN Special Representative noted. “They join around 9.3 million people already in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.”
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Furthermore, the economic crisis continues to exacerbate the country’s challenges. the UN Special Representative highlighted a staggering 200 percent increase in food prices and an inflation rate of 107 percent. “The cost of an average food basket has risen by 200 percent, the inflation rate stands at 107 percent, and approximately 10 months of government salaries are unpaid,” he reported, while expressing cautious optimism over the recent resumption of oil flows, which he hopes could lead to greater funding for social services.
In addressing the ongoing health crisis, Haysom mentioned the continuing spread of cholera, exacerbated by the 2024 floods. “Cholera was exacerbated by the 2024 floods and has resulted in over 23,000 reported cases,” he stated, though he acknowledged efforts to contain the outbreak through treatment and vaccination campaigns.
In concluding his remarks, Mr. Haysom reiterated the UN’s steadfast support for South Sudan’s journey toward stabilisation and democracy. “UNMISS stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of South Sudan on their journey from conflict to stabilisation and democratisation,” he affirmed. However, the UN Special Representative cautioned that the situation remains fragile, particularly with the approaching electoral period.
“The situation will remain fragile as an electoral period draws nearer,” the UN Special Representative concluded. “The role of the United Nations is to help make peace gains irreversible in a region that is rife with humanitarian and security challenges.”
