UN Envoy Warns South Sudan Risks Losing Peace Gains Amid Stalled Reforms and Rising Violence

UNMISS Head Issues Urgent Call for Action

Juba, South Sudan – Anita Kokui Gbeho, the acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), issued a stark warning on December 25, 2025, stating that South Sudan risks squandering its peace gains. In a Christmas message from Juba, Gbeho emphasized that political leaders must move beyond dialogue and implement concrete actions to halt violence and restore public confidence in the peace process. She described the past year as one marked by deep uncertainty and strain for the world's youngest nation, citing persistent insecurity, stalled political reforms, and economic hardship as significant challenges. These issues have heavily impacted communities already grappling with the long shadow of conflict and repeated climate shocks, including devastating floods.

Political Instability and Delayed Peace Agreement Implementation

The UN envoy's warning underscores a broader concern within the international community regarding the fragile state of South Sudan's 2018 peace agreement. The country continues to struggle with its full implementation, with key reforms such as security arrangements and constitutional processes facing significant delays. Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of UNMISS, echoed these concerns in an interview around December 22, 2025, describing the nation as being at a 'tipping point.' Haysom warned that even the scheduled national elections in December 2026 could potentially lead to more conflict rather than less, highlighting a spread of 'directly political' violence.

The political landscape has been further complicated by recent events, including the charging of First Vice President Riek Machar with treason and other crimes in September 2025, leading to his ongoing trial. This development has been a major factor contributing to rising political tensions and mistrust among the parties to the peace agreement. The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, in October 2025, also warned that the escalating political crisis and renewed armed violence were worsening the humanitarian and human rights situations, attributing these issues to a 'failure of leadership' and 'unchecked, systemic corruption.'

Escalating Violence and Humanitarian Crisis

The country has witnessed a resurgence of armed clashes, with incidents such as the fighting in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in March 2025, contributing to a volatile atmosphere. These renewed hostilities have led to a significant increase in displacement, with approximately 300,000 people fleeing South Sudan in 2025 alone. The humanitarian situation remains dire, exacerbated by:

• An inability to adequately feed its population
• Ongoing floods
• A significant influx of refugees from the conflict in neighboring Sudan

International partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika), issued a joint statement on December 18, 2025, urging South Sudanese leaders to cease fighting and recommit to the peace agreement. They criticized the government for not adhering to power-sharing principles and warned against the misuse of public resources, noting that civil servants' salaries have gone unpaid for months. The collective message from UN officials and international bodies is clear: decisive action and genuine political will are urgently needed to prevent South Sudan from sliding back into full-scale conflict and to ensure a credible path towards lasting peace and stability.