South Sudan - Security Council, 10103rd meeting

The 10,103rd meeting of the Security Council is called to order.

The provisional agenda for this meeting is reports of the Secretary General on the Sudan and South Sudan. The agenda is adopted in accordance with Rule 37 of the council's Provisional Rules of Procedure. I invite the representative of South Sudan to participate in this meeting. It is so decided.

In accordance with Rule 39 of the council's Provisional Rules of Procedure. I invite the following briefers to to participate in this meeting. Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, Under Secretary General for Peace Operations Major General George Agre Oweno, Interim Chairperson, Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and evaluation Commission and Mr. Edmond Yekhani, Executive Director, Community Empowerment for Progress Organization.

It is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item two of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S20 2658, the report of the Secretary General on the situation in South Sudan.

I now give the floor to Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Mr. President, I thank you for this opportunity to address this Security Council following the Secretary General's latest report. Since my last briefing just a month ago, major developments have taken place in South Sudan that require particular attention given the country's continued fragility as described in the report. Political deadlock among the main signatories to the revitalized peace agreement continues to drive heightened tensions manifesting in armed confrontations in many parts of the country. In recent weeks we have witnessed a sharp escalation of violence, particularly in Zhonglei, with clashes between government and opposition forces.

Both sides claim to be acting in self defense, while at the same time preparing for the possibility of large scale hostilities. The reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric, mass displacement and severe restrictions on humanitarian access observed in Zhonglei are of great concern. Communities that remember all too well the violence of 2013 and 2016 are again on the move. Over 280,000 people displaced place from fighting in Zhonglei alone, as per government sources. On 25 January, government forces in Zhonglei instructed the temporary relocation of civilians as well as UN and humanitarian personnel from several counties in Zhongli, including from the ANBIS base in Akobo, citing an anticipated military operation Two days later, the government spokesperson subsequently denied issuing such directive while reiterating continued cooperation with these partners.

We are also concerned by reports of inflammatory public statements attributed to General Johnson Ohlone Thabo, the South Sudan People's Defence Forces Assistant Chief for disarmament and mobilization. Although the government clarified that these do not reflect official policy. Such rhetoric only inflames an already volatile situation and underscores the need for restraint and the protection of civilians. Mr. President, the African Union Peace and Security Council as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development have expressed serious concern regarding escalating hostilities. Together, we have also made clear that there is no military solutions and that the revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework for peace and stability.

It is in this context that we, the United nations, the African Union and IGAD have reiterated our position that any changes to the revitalized agreement must be undertaken through inclusive and consensual processes. We therefore remain concerned by recent unilateral initiatives to amend the agreement, including proposals to defer key outstanding tasks such as the constitution making process until after the elections. If pursued, such changes would alter the primacy of the agreement and its precedence over national legislation. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement, army and Opposition, or SPLM aio, as a principal signatory to the agreement, has indicated that it was not able to participate in these discussions. In light of the ongoing legal proceedings involving First Vice President Bek Machara, the party has continued to contest these initiatives and has reiterated its position that its participation in political dialogue is contingent upon Mr. Machar's release.

We take note of regional efforts aimed at revitalizing dialogue, including of the updated to mining process with emphasis on supporting the holding of elections at a key milestone and the African Union's High Level Other Committee for South Sudan or C5 proposal for a leadership retreat in Pretoria to help much needed momentum. Concurrently, President Key has also constituted a national broad based committee for a 45 day long consultative process on election related questions. However, excluding the mainstream splma. While these efforts are welcome Dialogue and Consensus Consensus building among all Dialogue and consensus building Excuse me, there is a nico.

I will continue. While these efforts are welcome, dialogue and consensus building among all signatories and stakeholders to the agreement remain the only viable path to overcoming the current stalemate and ensuring a tangible cessation of hostilities on the ground. Convergence with existing regional framework will be important to ensure complementarity and effectiveness. South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarian workers. In 2025, 350 attacks on humanitarian staff and facilities were recorded, up from 255 the previous year.

Despite government assurances, partners report persistent access constraints, particularly to opposition held areas. These constraints are unfolding amid the country's first cholera outbreak. With over 98,000 reported cases since the outbreak began in September 2024. The situation is now deteriorating further with the resurgence of cholera in Zhonghe State where cases numbers are steadily increasing, flight restrictions and blocked movements are preventing medical evacuations and delaying the delivery of life saving assistance to vulnerable communities at a critical time. In parallel there are repeated reports of attacks on and looting of health facilities, humanitarian offices, vehicles and other critical assets, further undermining the cholera response and broader humanitarian operations.

Large numbers of people are sheltering in open areas or makeshift structures with limited access to food, health care and protection. Violence in Urar and Nirol forced the closure of 24 nutrition sites, cutting off care for 7,868 children, including 2,633 with severe acute malnutrition and also cutting off care for 2,764 pregnant and breastfeeding women. At least eight health facilities have been affected, most recently on 3 February a hospital in Lankin was struck during an airstrike which has destroyed critical medical supplies and injured staff. A health facility in Thierry Urog county was looted on the same day, forcing head workers and community members to flee. These facilities provided essential health care for over 25,000 people.

Between the 30th of January and 1st of February, humanitarian barges carrying vital items to assist 73,000 civilians were attacked and looted in Upper Nile State. These incidents raised serious concerns about shrinking humanitarian space at the time when more than 10 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 7.5 million facing food insecurity and over 1.3 million returnees and refugees from Sudan. I urge this council to send a clear united message. Attacks on health facilities, medical personnel and humanitarian staff, infrastructure and assets are unacceptable. The parties must commit to guarantee sustained, predictable and safe humanitarian access countrywide.

I further urge that humanitarian action is funded in line with the scale of needs through the hyper prioritized South Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan so that essential life saving assistance can be here. Mr. President. Against this backdrop, UNMISSING is nearing completion of its cost reduction measures while endeavoring to implement its mandate. The mission continues to engage political leadership at national and sub national levels to de escalate fightings, conduct patrols and maintain a deterrence posture to protect civilians. UNNIS has broadened its engagements with women lead networks, the women's leagues of the main political parties as well as civil society women's platforms to support their participation in political dialogue and governance in Unity State.

When violence in Pakour triggered the spillover attention into the Bentiu IDP camps and SSPDF deployed heavy artillery into the buffer zone opposite IO positions, UNMIS intervened swiftly deploying forces and engaging the parties, helping to de escalate a potentially dangerous situation and thus saving probably many lives. Amid these rising needs, the cost reduction measures have already resulted in significant operational capacity constraint to deliver fully on mandated tasks. For example, protection patrols have been reduced by up to 40% where forced deployment is decreasing and by up to 70% in areas where bases have closed long duration. Ground patrols have dropped from three or four per month to one or two. Around 40 human rights monitoring missions have been canceled areas where bases of crows are seeing increased tension and crashes.

Today, the situation in Anacobo shows the difficult balance we face. Although the base is scheduled for closure by March, under the reduction plan, escalating fighting in Zhonglei required the mission to send reinforcements instead. You would also have seen reports of the establishment by unnis or Temporary Operational Base in Duk Padyet, north of Bor in Chonglei State. In a largely opposition controlled area, our presence is serving as a critical deterrent. Indeed, it has so far helped prevent potential aerial bombardments in and around the town.

For many civilians, Acobo can become an island of relative safety at the moment of acute insecurity until it is closed. To mitigate these constraints, UNNICE has been adapting to the extent possible its operation to prioritize protection, humanitarian facilitation and rapid response efforts. The mission is recalibrating its operation to leverage available resources to sustain critical engagement to accompany affected communities and institutions and deliver essential services. For example, with major troop and base reductions, the force component will rely more on the longer hotspot focused patrols and the tighter planning cycles requiring deeper integration with civilian sections and field offices. While staying agile to respond to civilian threats, Civil affairs has expanded reliance on partner non governmental organizations to maintain situational awareness and sustain continuity of engagement.

The trends we are currently observing are clear. The presence of unmissed continues to matter a lot. It matters to the people that we protect, it matters to our humanitarian partners that we assist, and it matters to the peace process that we actively support and engage in. Mr. President, in light of the above, the international community, including this Council, must ensure that the South Sudanese political actors step back from this dangerous precipice, return to dialogue and seek consensus on the way forward. The renewed momentum we're seeing in the region, the efforts by the African Union, IGAD and South Sudan's neighbors are laudable and require our support and require the support, the united support of this Security Council at this critical juncture, a coordinated, strong approach by the international community will help ensure the integrity and supremacy of the revitalised agreement and will eventually lead to the long overdue and successful implementation of its security arrangements and the holding of free, fair and inclusive national elections.

Let me be clear. Without consensus, without the participation of all those who have placed their hopes into this peace process and in all corners, in all 10 states of the country, any election is likely to be not credible and therefore worthy of our support. The Secretary General's critical mass of necessary conditions for peaceful and credible elections, as agreed with the African Union and agap, remains valid. In closing, allow me to also reinforce the importance of a peacekeeping mission that continues to be fully operational and robust amidst all these very challenging and difficult circumstances. Your continued support of this Council to enmiss enables the Mission to continue to address the challenges that I just described.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank Mr. Lacroix for his briefing. I now give the floor to Major General George Agre Oweno.

Thank you, Excellency. Your Excellency, Ambassador and President of the United Nations Security Council, Distinguished members of the Council, Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, may I begin by congratulating you on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for this month. I would also like to convey my thanks for inviting the Constitution Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, rjmc, to address this esteemed Council. The RJMC is the official oversight body responsible for monitoring and evaluating the status of implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, also known as the AR axis, and it is mandated under Article 710 of the Araxis to submit status of Implementation reports quarterly followed by detailed briefings to, among others, the United Nations Security Council. My report today builds on my last briefing to this esteemed council, delivered on 18 August 2025 when I provided an update on substantial deterioration in the political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan and on the RJMX latest quarterly report covering the period of the 1st October 2025 31st December of 2025 Mr. President, esteemed Council members, since my last briefing, the political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan has continued to deteriorate, placing the implementation of the Axis in Syria's jeopardy.

Politically, the responsibility sharing arrangements of the peace agreement continue to be eroded through withdrawn and replacements of opposition representatives from different portfolios of the revitalized Transition Government of National Unity at ego, new Executive and legislative at national and state levels. In addition, His Excellency Dr. Rick Masher, Vice President and Chairperson of SPLMIO, remains confined and on trial together with other SPLMIO officials. Meanwhile, some decisions continue to be made within the transition government without the consensus of all the agreement signatories as required by the Arabs on the security situation. The permanent ceasefire has been severely violated since March of 2025. The clashes between the South Sudan People's Defence Force, SSPDF and SPLMIO show no signs of abuting, evident by the ongoing military offensive in the Upper Nile and Jongle states and repeated clashes reported in different parts of the Greater Equatorial Region.

According to reports from the ceasefire and Transition Security monitoring verification mechanism SITSAM, military confrontations between the SSPDF and SPNAIO and allied forces have occurred in in six out of the 10 states and three administrative areas, triggering a new wave of civilian displacement and humanitarian hardships. In December 2025 alone, CSAM reported or documented 76 alleged ceasefire violations, 21 incidents of hostilities and 25 incidents of violence against civilians and humanitarian actors.

This is January of 2026-37 to 87 alleged ceasefire violations of which 30 of the incidents were reported, hostilities between the signatory parties and 26 incidents of violence against civilian actors. Amidst the ongoing cease revolution, CFSAM itself faces serious financial and operational challenges affecting its capability to verify all alleged violations. The reporting and especially investigative capacity has in the recent years been critically reduced due to continuous cuts in donor support.

As we are approaching the scheduled elections for December this year, it is highly regrettable that CSAM is severely confined by this financial stress. Despite the continuous appeal for de escalation ceasefire, political dialogue and the adherence the provision of the Arab Axis, repeated actions to the contrary have seriously undermined confidence in the peace process and risks returning the country back to war. With time first running out any further deterioration of the security situation coupled with the failure of the Article Nuke to urgently address the political statement and commence genuine and inclusive dialogue on a viable way forward, including on the conduct of relations and the peaceful end of the transition period poses a great risk to the permanent free peace agreement. Mr. President, in light of the aforementioned RGMF recommends to this Council the following urgent actions to restore the sanctity of the R Axis and to encourage a return to its full implementation.

This the Council aim to prevail on the parties the agreement to seize all hostilities, embrace all inclusive genuine dialogue and reactivate the agreement. Implementation mechanisms B Immediately restore and respect the permanent ceasefire and embark on a full reunification and professionalization of security forces under single non partisan command. C Urge the leadership in Juba to preserve the peace, promote reconciliation, resolve political disagreements through dialogue and address disputes through the mechanisms of the R Axis and B to assist the Artigunu to resolve the current political and security per se and find a political solution to the issue of the first Vice President and all political detainees to pave the way the meaningful dialogue to a peaceful end in the transition period, I'd call upon the ART to reconstitute itself as per the provisions of the Art Axis, particularly restoring.

Its provisions including of its supremacy and to remain seized of the situation in the Republic of South Sudan. In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to appeal the esteemed Council to use his good offices to support the implementation of the Vitalized Peace Agreement. To date, the ARAXIS has delivered significant peace dividends which should be consolidated and it remains the only viable available pathway to building an enduring peace in South Sudan. I thank you.

I thank Major General Agre Oweno for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Edmund Yakani.

Thank you, Mr. President of the Council. Allow me take this opportunity to congratulate you for assuming the Chair of the Council and thanks for inviting me to brief the Council. Civil society are calling for your attention and seek your urgent support to the unjustified situation in South Sudan following the breakout of the violence in Nasser county in March 2025, the situation is getting worse. Safety and protection of civilians in the areas that are witnessing the renewed conflict between SSPDEV and Sple IO is at risk. Evidently we observed series of attacks on humanitarian workers and properties in many the areas that are witnessing the armed violence.

The renewed armed violence between SSPDF and Sple IO following the NASA incident made the little observe political stability without large scale armed violence hindered. This undermines the government call for holding of national general election in December 2026. We are concerned that the recently renewed armed violence may return the country to war if the parties fail to embrace inclusive dialogue for resolving their political stalemates that they are facing now. Coordinated regional and international political pressure is required to maintain and increase now. To that end, we urge the Council to do the following.

1. Demand immediate observation of ceasefire, resumption of inclusive political dialogue and release of political detainees. 2. Support the enforcement of the recent AU Peace and Security Council Communique 1326 meeting which was held in Addis dated 23rd February 2026 3. Reinstate the need for a sweep and coordinated implementation of the pending task of the R Axis with full participation from the rightful signatory to our access and all stakeholders.

Unrestricted access must be granted to humanitarian actors including protection of humanitarian workers and properties. Ensure that South Sudanese parties agree upon a good conditions for conduct of election as scheduled for December 2026 and SUA South Sudanese parties undertake serious action for inclusive dialogue such as the Tomaini Initiative and the South Sudanese Women mediators intervention Demand leaders of South Sudan parties and their supporters to abstain from any form of hate speech and hatred sentiment. Mr. President, despite the many shortcomings in South Sudan peace process in the past, coordinated regional and international pressure has commendably led to a regular decrease in fighting among the warring parties. This coordinated pressure is required now for protection of civilians. Like in the ongoing violence in Jongole, Upper Nile states and other parts of the country.

Creation of a good enough and agreed upon conditions for the conduct of the election is scheduled for for December 2026 is essential. We observe violation of ceasefire and we demand that at least the parties should agree without any precondition to resume inclusive dialogue as I repeat, among the rightful signatory of our access. Nevertheless, there are continuous well documented violations of ceasefire and the peace agreement, all of which has affected the momentum of peace efforts. Deciding not to pressure the South Sudan parties, keep them to continue act with impunity. Following the multiple extension of the revitalized agreement on the resolution of Continental Republic of South Sudan, we expect that the warring parties could have set aside their differences and pick up a new pathway to put the country and the citizens on the pathway of realizing peace and stability.

But we are now witnessing unnecessary suffering of our citizens following the crisis in Jongole and Upper Nile State. The big question is until when? Mr. President, since 2013 the country has been in a war that have resulted to the killing of 400,000 people and forced million people displaced to face a severe food insecurity, farming condition and the displacement of the communities. We have witnessed sexual violence we we have witnessed habitual detention and silence of civil society activists and peace activists. In the recent report of UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan published in January 2026 has clearly shown that the peace stability in South Sudan is facing a threat as long the country government and opposition leaders act with impunity.

High deficit in trust and confidence among the political elites demonstrated majority of them are not acting for the best interest of the citizen of South Sudan apart from acting in a manner that they want to sustain their influence and their dominance in the power and that resulted for them to profiteer from the suffering of the citizens. Recent reports of Rjemek, as the interim chair have shared with you shows that the Araxes is facing a numerous challenges and this is putting the faith of political transition in South Sudan into jeopardy. There must be consistent pressure from the region and the international community to demonstrate to them that peace is the only option to go forward. Your Excellency, the Security Council Monday is purpose built to address situation currently facing South Sudan. In undertaking concrete and practical actions for making peace and stability in South Sudan prevailed.

The Council will so to the South Sudanese citizens if it stands with the people of South Sudan. As you have seen in the past and specifically following the situation in Jongola and Upper Nile states. Yes, it is a primary responsibility of our political elites to make peace and stability to happen in South Sudan. But unfortunately they decided to be warmongers. Therefore, we urge the Council to send a clear message to South Sudan government and opposition leader that they will not that they will be held accountable for any further violation of the AR access and manipulation of any inclusive dialogue.

Finally, your excellency, we civil society appreciate the role unumis who have been working with us in widening civic and political space. Besides the protection of civilians, we hope that this partnership between UNMIS and civil society will continue. And finally, we urge that the report of the UN Secretary General to the Council should be more detailed. Thank you very much.

I thank Mr. Yakhani for his briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of the United states.

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to our briefers.

Today the United States first priority in South Sudan is peace. However, South Sudan's leaders have systematically undermined this goal since their independence in 2011. They have repeatedly pushed the country back to the brink of war. Military operations across Greater Equatoria and the greater Upper Nile network provide stark evidence of South Sudan's willful actions to move further from peace and stability. Violence across these two regions has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians, forced aid organizations to suspend their operations and cause the immediate evacuation of UNMIS personnel.

These actions directly obstruct UNMISS's ability to. Protect civilians and catastrophically worsen a dire humanitarian emergency. We strongly condemn South Sudan's leaders actions and urge all parties to immediately cease offensive military operations, withdraw all forces and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations. We are also concerned by the transitional government's repeated unilateral amendments to the revitalized agreement. Any revisions to the agreement must be achieved through transparent inclusive dialogue involving all signatories rather than through unilateral action.

The United States takes note of the UN's February 3rd white note on South Sudan's progress on on Mrs. Contingency plans. However, we urge Council members to continue pressuring the transitional government to lift all remaining impediments to UNMISSA's operations. We condemn the host country's government's interference which has imposed unnecessary costs on unmas. These financial burdens paid for by this international community cannot go unaddressed.

South Sudan must be held financially accountable for these costs. President Trump has made clear that American engagement requires genuine partnership, not exploitation of our goodwill and resources. South Sudanese officials continue to fail to uphold basic commitments under the Status of Forces Agreement and demand to close critical bases in WAU and Benitu. Our position is unequivocal. Any further non cooperation by South Sudan will constitute a threat to the Mission's viability.

This will be a decisive factor in our future decisions regarding assistance, assistance, diplomatic engagement and the Mission's future. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of France.

Mr. President. First and foremost, I thank the Under Secretary General Jean Pierre Laquar as well as a Major General Owino and Executive Director Yakani for their statements. South Sudan has gained independence nearly 15 years ago. Since then, despite UN support, the transition towards a stable democratic government is still not achieved. Today, the convergence of the political security, humanitarian economic crisis compounded by the war in neighboring Sudan is undermining the peace agreement and generating the risk of the country's slide back into widespread violence.

In this context, I wish to emphasize three points. First and foremost, the UN mission in South Sudan plays a critical role in for safeguarding the country's stability and for the protection of civilians. It needs to be able to fully implement its mandate. We call upon the South Sudanese authorities to cooperate with the Mission and to fulfill their obligations under the Status of Forces Agreement. Recurrent obstacles and movement restrictions for the troops are unacceptable.

France also welcomes the work done by the Secretariat to design and to implement the contingency plan which was made necessary owing to the liquidity crisis. Difficult choices have been made to address the priorities related to protection of civilians and to address the needs of unisfa. This illustrates peacekeeping operations exemplary ability to adapt. Second, the security situation has deteriorated since the last meeting on this matter, specifically in Jongle. The war in neighboring Sudan and the presence of external actors exacerbating the situation.

France calls upon all member states to respect arms embargoes for Sudan and Darfur. We denounce the violent and at times racist rhetoric in recent weeks and we call upon the South Sudanese authorities to adopt the necessary measures in order to diffuse these tensions. We are alarmed by the great violations of IHL and International Human Human Rights Law and by the increase in the number of civilian casualties, including those caused by aerial bombardments. We call upon the South Sudanese authorities and all parties to guarantee safe, rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access to all of the territory and to protect civilians as well as humanitarian personnel and infrastructure. Third, the political situation in South Sudan is highly precarious as elections are being held.

In principle, they are scheduled to be held at the end of the year. France calls upon all political stakeholders in the country to respect the letter in the spirit of the revitalized agreement. The house arrest and the legal proceedings against Vice President Rick Machar are alarming and foment tensions. France calls for supports, the African Union's calls for his release. There is a need to prioritize tangible progress for the possibility to be made a reality, for the proper conduct of elections in due form.

And the government must prioritize drafting constitution and census and to mobilize the necessary resources. To that end, we welcome the involvement of the African Union and EGAD and South Sudan. We stand ready to support regional international efforts for the country to extricate itself from this rut, given that the South Sudanese themselves can must take ownership of the situation. Thank you of China.

President, I thank Under Secretary General Lacroix and Chop.

Candid speaker. Kindly resume. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, phil.

President, I thank Under Secretary General Lacroix and chairperson of Vino for their briefings and have listened attentively to Mr. Yakini's statement. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative, South Sudan at today's meeting. The current situation in South Sudan remains unstable, marked by deteriorating internal security and increasingly dire humanitarian situation. As the Secretary General's report notes, South Sudan's political process is at a critical juncture to realize the shared aspirations of the South Sudanese people for peace and development. China calls on all parties to uphold four do's and four don'ts.

First, pursue stability, not conflict. In recent months, violence has repeatedly erupted in Zhongde State, up and out state and other areas causing civilian casualties and displacement. With multiple hospitals and humanitarian agencies coming under attack, China urges all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement, halt hostilities, prevent further escalation, strengthen the production of civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers and effectively fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law. We support Angles and the Government of South Sudan in continuing to promote intercommunal dialogue and safeguard surveillance security.

Second, seek unity not Division with one year remaining in the transitional period. We support all political forces in South Sudan in prioritising the overall interests of the nation and its people, resolving differences through inclusive dialogue involved in actions that could lead to division and observing and implementing all provisions of the revitalized agreement so that the country's future can be shaped in a spirit of unity. General elections are the internal affairs of South Sudan. China supports the ownership of the South Sudanese government and people and looks forward to smooth progress in election preparations. Third, encourage reconciliation, not exert pressure.

China welcomes the efforts of the African Union, its high level ad hoc Committee on South Sudan, IGAT and others to ease differences among South Sudanese parties and advance the peace process. We support resolving African issues in African ways and support safeguarding South Sudan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. With the EU summit approaching, many African countries are actively engaged in shuttle diplomacy. The City Council, for its part, should exercise necessary patience and give regional mediation sufficient time and space avoiding inappropriate external pressure. Fourth, provide assistance not cut off support.

The spillover effects of the conflict in the Sudan have undermined the South Sudan's fiscal revenues and border security. Coupled with refugee inflows, widespread flooding and disease outbreaks. South Sudan's economic and humanitarian situation remains under severe strain. Cutting off a citizens or imposing unilateral sanctions at this very moment would only make matters worse, hurting ultimately the ordinary people. On the contrary, the international community should increase its support to help South Sudan improve livelihoods, address humanitarian challenges and achieve economic diversification and sustainability.

President China welcomes the positive steps taken by the Government of South Sudan and supports analysts in essentially completing its contingency drawdown plan. We encourage both sides to continue friendly consultations in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding to properly address difficulties that may arise in future cooperation. Almiz has played an irreplaceable role in maintaining peace and stability in South Sudan. The large scale drawdown has already posed serious challenges to its mandate. Implementation and admissions role must not be further weakened.

As a major troop contributing country to armis, China will as always, continue to support support the mission in fulfilling its mandate. Chinese peacekeepers will continue to demonstrate exemplary conduct and uphold their sacred mission. China stands ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping South Sudan achieve lasting peace and sustainable development at an early date. Thank you, President.

I thank the representative of China for the statement and their understanding with the technical issues. I now give the floor to the representative of denmark.

Thank you, Mr. President. And I also thank USG Lacroix and our briefers for their remarks. Mr. President, South Sudan is on the brink of collapse.

The revitalized peace agreement is under direct threat by the transitional leadership. While the people of South Sudan face growing human rights violations, displacement and violence statements and direct incitements to violence against civilians risk further adding fuel to this fire. Without direct action. There is, as we heard from our briefers, a real possibility of all out war and disastrous consequences for regional peace and security. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a decisive return to the full implementation of the peace agreement has never been more critical.

This remains the key framework which confers legitimacy on the transitional government while providing the only viable roadmap to peace. Regrettably, this agreement has been gradually and consistently hollowed out by unilateral amendments with which we strongly disagree. We reject the transitional government's trajectory of consolidating power and marginalizing the opposition. There's an urgent need for a genuine national inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders. It is time to demonstrate real commitment to a democratic transition that serves the people of South Sudan, not its political elite.

We also remain deeply concerned over the detention and trial of Vice President Machar and other opposition figures. We call for strict adherence to a process and to the provision of transparent and credible evidence. Further, Denmark supports the efforts of the EU high level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan while calling for strong alignment between all existing initiatives. Mr. President, the humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated. Zhongle has become a flashboard for fighting, triggering mass displacement and civilian suffering.

Denmark condemns continued restrictions on humanitarian access imposed by the transitional government in parts of opposition held areas. Civilians must never be used as leverage in a political rivalry. We are further appalled by continued attacks and intimidation against humanitarians in South Sudan. This includes the repeated attacks on a WFP convoy in Upper Nile State which led to the suspension of food aid. Furthermore, just last week, an MSF hospital in Zhonglei serving over 250,000 people was targeted in an airstrike which destroyed a warehouse containing medical supplies.

Such attacks seriously undermine the protection of the medical personnel in armed conflict and should be condemned by this Council as mentioned by Under Secretary General Lacroix. At the same time, the human rights situation remains deeply troubling, including alarming levels of conflict related sexual violence. All parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times. Mr. President, in this time of insecurity, Onmis offers stability, protection and support for the most vulnerable. Denmark fully supports the mission and reiterates that it must be enabled to operate and resourced to fully deliver its mandate, especially protection of civilians.

Continued SOFA violations by the transitional government run directly counter to this mandate. We condemn the killing of an unmissed staff member in WAU in December 2020. The safety and security of UN personnel must be guaranteed in accordance with international law. In closing, as we face the real risk of widespread conflict in South Sudan, we believe it is incumbent on this council to speak out forcefully and in one voice. To demand an end to the violence, to insist that the peace agreement is upheld.

Ultimately, the power to change course rests with the South Sudanese leaders. We call on them to act now to commit to peace and respect the dignity, well being and fundamental rights of all the people of South Sudan. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Thank you, Mr. President. It's my honor to make the statement on behalf of the A3 Liberia, Somalia and my own country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We thank the under Secretary General, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, Major General George Agray and Mr. Edmund Yakani.

Thank you all for your relevant briefings. We welcome the participation of the representative of South Sudan in this morning's meeting. The A3 welcome the commitment of the Government of South Sudan to its regional and international partners. Nevertheless, we are concerned by the fact that the revitalised agreement is now at a critical juncture due to persistent violations on the political and security fronts. We remain particularly alarmed by the maintenance and detention and the trial of the first Vice President Ruiz Machar and other leaders of the SPLM and this development associated with unilateral political shuffling risk compromising the progress of the transition government and perspectives of peaceful and credible elections.

We reiterate our appeal for them to be immediately released and urge all parties to return to inclusive political dialogue. As regards the electoral process, South Sudan is at a decisive moment. We take note of the proposal of the the Presidency to modify the revitalise agreement in order to disassociate the elections of December 2026 from the permanent constitution and the national census. The A3 underscore that any amendment of this type must be obtained through inclusive consensus between all of the signatories. We urge the international community to support the the National Electoral Commission while calling upon the government to ensure that the political will and the resources required are devoted to these institutions.

On the security front, the A3 are alarmed by the fresh outbreak of violence in the Greater Orlean, in the Bari Ghazal and other regions, aerial bombings as well as inter community confrontations that have been reported have claimed many victims and have caused mass displacements of populations. We urge all armed actors to respect the ceasefire, the permanent ceasefire, and give priority to the security and safety of civilians. What's more, we call for the urgent implementation of transitional provisions for security, including the complete deployment of of the unified forces required. The A3 firmly condemned the killing of a United nations member of personnel who was attacked by security forces while discharging his role. We call for an in depth and transparent investigation into this odious act and call for unhindered access and protection of all United nations personnel in South Sudan.

As regards the humanitarian and economic situation, the A3 are profoundly concerned by the deterioration of conditions. More than 10 million people, that's 2/3 of the population, now need aid due to the conflict, serious flooding and the flow of people coming from Sudan. We're concerned over the financing deficit, 58% for humanitarian interventions from 2025 and we urge international partners to increase their support in this regard. The A3 reaffirm that UNMISS plays an essential role in South Sudan, in particular protecting civilians and supporting the political process. While noting with satisfaction the constructive cooperation between the government and UNMISS and the emergency implementation of the mission, we express our concern over the impact of recent reductions to expenditure and the effect it's having on the operational capacity of the mission, in particular the limits imposed on patrols and political engagement.

We therefore underscore the urgent need for lasting, predictable and adequate financing for both UNMIS as well as other humanitarian operations. By way of conclusion, the A3 underscored that an approach led by Africa based on partnership and the respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of South Sudan offers the most sustainable path to peace. We welcome the constant commitment of the AU as part of the Tumeni Initiative. We urge all stakeholders, all South Sudanese stakeholders to remain committed to the revitalise agreement and to work collectively to ensure a sustainable and democratic future for their people. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of latvia.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank USG Lacroix, Major General Oino and Mr. Yakani for their informative briefings. A little over a decade ago c civil war in South Sudan unleashed mass death and displacement. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Millions were displaced and fled to neighboring states.

And today we are seeing dangerous echoes of the past. Violence is on the rise in Jongle Upper Nile and in other parts of the country and civilians are the ones again paying the price and the situation is a tinderbox. In such conditions, even one word can become a spark. Any inflammatory rhetoric that normalizes harm to civilians is unacceptable and must be addressed. So let me highlight three points.

First, the priority now is de escalation and return to full implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. This requires constructive engagement by both the government and the opposition, as well as maximum restraint, especially in areas where risks to civilians are the highest. We note with concern unilateral proposals to amend the revitalised peace agreement, including the deferral of key commitments. Any changes should be pursued only through inclusive dialogue among the signatories. De escalation must translate into protection on the ground.

Reports of sexual violence, arbitrary detention and extrajudicial killings are deeply alarming as they may amount to crimes against humanity. All parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and those responsible for such crimes must be held accountable. Humanitarian access through the country must be safe, rapid and unimpeded attacks on hospitals, health facilities, humanitarian offices as well as on aid convoys, ambulances are unacceptable. They deprive civilians of life saving assistance when it is needed most. Second, Latvia extends its full support to unmes.

The mission remains essential and its protection presents protection presence saves lives. Latvia considers the ONMIS bases in war are and benqio indispensable and they are critical for mandate implementation, including the protection of civilians and also for continued support to UNIS for operations. We take note of recent progress in implementing UNMIS contingency plan. At the same time, continued engagement by the Government of South Sudan with UNMIS is needed to preserve the missions of operational footprint and enable effective mandate implementation. And this includes ensuring unrestricted freedom of movement and avoiding any impediments to UNMISS operations.

Third, the region's voice and involvement are most crucial. Regional actors have unique leverage to help prevent further escalation. The region also understands better than anyone the wider consequences of continued violence and we welcome and encourage the African Union High level Ad Hoc Committee for South Sudan alongside IGAD and neighboring states to play an active and unifying role in supporting de escalation and the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreements. I thank you.

I thank the representative of for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Thank you, Mr. President. the outset I'd like to thank Under Secretary General Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix and Mr. Major General Ambassador George Oyno, Interim Chairperson for the reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission and Sir Edmond Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization. For their comprehensive briefings. I would also like to welcome Her Excellency, the representative of South Sudan who's. Participating in today's meeting.

Mr. President, the kingdom of Bahrain shares the international community's concern regarding the deterioration of the security, political and humanitarian situation in the Republic of South Sudan. This comes in light of the continued acts of violence and recurring violations, especially in the states of Ecuador, Victoria, Unity and Zhongli. This comes in addition to the recent attacks targeting relief convoys and humanitarian and medical facilities and the subsequent spillover effects that threaten the regional tension. This directly endangers the lives of civilians and humanitarian relief personnel. At the same time, it undermines the ability of the UN Mission in South Sudan to effectively discharge its mandate, particularly in view of the operational and financial challenges it faces, as well as restrictions and violations and limitations imposed on its movement.

In this vein, I would like to highlight the following. First, the Kingdom of Bahrain urges all concerned parties to fully adhere to the revitalized peace agreement of 2018. We stress the importance of of the genuine political will among all parties to engage in a comprehensive and constructive national reconciliation dialogue. Such dialogue should aim to strengthen national reconciliation, consolidate trust and build consensus. This would allow the completion of the remaining tasks to implement the transitional political phase as stipulated in the agreement, while preserving the gains achieved thus far.

This would pave the way for the holding of inclusive and credible elections in 2026. It would fulfill the aspirations of the people of South Sudan for stability and prosperity while safeguarding the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Second, the Kingdom of Bahrain expresses its profound concern regarding what has been stated in the recent reports of UN Secretary General and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. These reports indicate that approximately 10 million people, nearly 2 thirds of the population of South Sudan, are in need of humanitarian assistance. This includes more than 600,000 refugees.

Moreover, there is a continuation of the escalation of the number of displaced persons as a result of the intensified violence in the country competition over scarce and limited resources. Accordingly, we call for concerted effort to respond to the needs and ensure the rapid and coordinated delivery of humanitarian assistance to counter the increasing requirements. Third, the Kingdom of Bahrain urges relevant national actors in coordination with regional and international partners to support efforts aimed at adopting comprehensive measures to address the root causes leading to the armament of youth and their involvement in armed clashes so that we can curb such a trend. This would be pursued through intensifying initiatives focused on youth capacity building, enhancing their opportunities and ensuring their effective engagement in peace processes and promoting their integration within society. Fourth, the Kingdom of Bahrain commends the role of regional mechanisms and support supporting the national peace process in South Sudan and in building its institutions, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the IGAD Initiative and the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism on the Transition Security arrangements, as well as the Ceasefire in South Sudan initiative.

We also know the ongoing effort led by the African Union, including the African Union High Level Ministerial Committee on South Sudan, as well as the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.

Based on this perspective, we join these entities in calling for an immediate cessation of violence and the resumption of dialogue while ensuring the protection of civilians. We further call for concerted local, regional international efforts to strengthen cooperation with the aim of achieving peace, security and stability in South Sudan and the wider region. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the Representative Bahrain for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Greece.

Thank you, Mr. President and I thank us G. Lacruy and our brief first major general Georgia Oino and Mr. Edmund Yakani for their insightful updates. We share the deep concern over the continued escalation of violence, the sharp deterioration of the security situation and the grave humanitarian consequences in the country. We are particularly alarmed by the reported displacement of more than 180,000 civilians following renewed view violence in Joglay and by the government's reporting that 250,000 people were displaced in the first weeks of 2026.

Allow me to underline three points. First, we remain deeply concerned by the continued erosion of the 2018 revitalized agreement, which remains the cornerstone of South Sudan's transitional framework. Unilateral political actions, repeated reshuffles and the undermining of agreed power sharing arrangements have significantly weakened the spirit of inclusivity and consensus on which the agreement is based. In this context, we note with concern the December 2025 attempts to amend the political framework in a manner that separates elections from the completion of a permanent constitution. We therefore reiterate the revitalized agreement in its entirety remains the only viable roadmap for sustainable peace and stability in South Sudan and provides the appropriate framework for elections planned for December 2026 and we call for an inclusive dialogue to dissent.

Second, Greece is alarmed by the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation across large parts of the country. Continued hostilities between government forces, opposition elements and other armed groups have resulted in increasing civilian casualties, displacement and restricted humanitarian access, particularly in Greater Upper Nile and and Greater Equatoria. We condemn in the strongest possible terms attacks against civilians, humanitarian workers and United nations personnel, as well as persistent violation of the Status of Forces Agreement. Furthermore, we are gravely concerned by serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. We particularly condemn the high number of violations against children, including recruitment and use, abductions, attacks against schools and hospitals and rape and other forms of sexual violence.

Any violations and abuses against children are entirely unacceptable. We call on all parties to end and prevent them immediately, to hold those responsible responsible into account and to assure the safety and well being of affected children. Third, Greece reaffirms its strong support for UNMIS and its mandate, particularly its vital role in protecting civilians, supporting the peace process and facilitating humanitarian access. In this regard, we underscore the importance of full cooperation between the Transition Constitutional government and UNMIS in line with the Status of Forces Agreement. Constructive engagement is also essential to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis affecting peacekeeping operations and to preserve the Mission's operational effectiveness.

In closing, Mr. President, it is important to acknowledge the continued engagement of the African Union, IGAD and regional partners and underscore that close coordination between regional and international actors remains essential for sustainable peace in South Sudan. We call on South Sudanese leaders to demonstrate political will recommit to dialogue and place the interest of well being of the South Sudanese people at the center of their decision. I thank you.

You. I thank the representative of Greece for their statement.

I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Gracias, Senor. President. Thank you, Mr. President.

We thank the undersecretary general, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, Major General George Agray Owinot, Interim Chairperson of the reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Future Evaluation Committee as well as Mr. Edmund Yochani representing Civil Society. Thank you all for your briefings. We also recognize the presence of the representative of South Sudan here at this meeting. We listened closely to the briefer's assessments of the situation in the country which confirm just how grave a moment South Sudan is going through. As stated in the most recent Secretary General's report, South Sudan is at a critical juncture.

Panama expresses its profound concern over the alarming escalation of violence in South Sudan, in particular in the states of Jonglem and Upper Nile which have aggravated persistent humanitarian situation that affects more than 2/3 of the population who live between forced displacement, persistent attacks and sexual and gender based violence. Panama firmly condemns these acts and urges all parties to put an end to hostilities, to respect international humanitarian law and to guarantee safe and sustained access for humanitarian assistance. The repeated hostilities do not only erode existing political commitments, they also have immediate and deep running humanitarian consequences. On the other hand, we observe with concern the protracted stagnantation in the implementation of the revitalized Agreement for Peace of 2018, which is casting serious doubt over the political situation in the country and the political will of its government. What's more, unilateral attempts recently to modify fundamental provisions of the revitalized agreement could weaken the agreement as well as trust between the parties, thus increasing the risks of instability.

We agree with the Secretary General on the fact that any adjustment to the transition framework should come from dialogue and consensus from all the signatories and should also benefit from broad national support.

Panama believes that there is an obvious correlation between insecurity, the humanitarian crisis and governance deficits, and this requires a comprehensive, immediate response. In this context, we echo the recent communique of the African Union Peace and Security Council that highlights the need for a sustained commitment from the African Union and from the United nations in order to safeguard an extremely fragile peace process. Panama agrees that the parties must prioritize the interests of the people of South Sudan, refrain from unilateral actions or any form of violent escalation, and return to genuine dialogue that allows the mechanisms of the revitalised agreement to be fully reactivated and also for the hostilities to come to an end and for this to be respected. Panama reiterates its support to UNMISS and to the essential work carried out by its civilian, military and police personnel who are working in increasingly complex and demanding conditions. This Council has constantly recognized the stabilizing role of the mission, particularly in a context that is marked by violence, weak institutions and a grave humanitarian crisis.

At the same time, we cannot refrain from expressing our concern over the fact that in practice, the adjustments from the contingency plan in a context of severe budgetary constraints may lead to a reduction in the operational capacity of the mission, with direct implications on its ability to fulfil its mandate to protect civilians.

We have listened to and weighed up, and we stand in solidarity with the calls for support made by the Under Secretary General, Mr. Lacroix in his briefing to the Council, as well as the ones made by Major General George Owino and Mr. Edmund Yakani. The protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance and commitments to peace must accompany the mission. There is a critical situation of violations of the peace agreement that threaten the healthy political development as well as the operationalization of the mission, and all of these are a threat to peace. Panama believes that the mandate given to the mission by this Council is essential, and it's essential for it to continue to be implemented comprehensively. Mr. President, in the current context, only collective, responsible actions focused on comprehensively fulfilling the revitalized agreement will enable us to avoid a further escalation of the conflict and enable us to respond to the legitimate aspirations of peace, security and dignity of the South Sudanese people.

Thank you very much. I thank the representative of Panama for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President. We are grateful to the Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, and the the Interim Chairman of ARMEC, Mr. George or Winnow, as well as Civil Society Representative Edmund Yakani, for their briefings.

We welcome the participation of the Permanent representative of South Sudan, Madam Cecilia Denka. The situation in South Sudan is presently fraught with tension. Clashes between government troops and opposition supporters are ongoing, engulfing more and more states in the country. Military hostilities are resulting in growth of human. Human casualties, including civilian casualties.

We believe that there is no military solution to this conflict. As a result, the efforts of the African Union to achieve a peaceful resolution to the current military political crisis in South Sudan are particularly important. We highly value the African Union and IGAD's mediation efforts as well as also individual African leaders. We note with satisfaction the outcomes of the extraordinary meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union held on 23 January, which enshrined the fact that there's no alternative to arriving at peaceful solutions. On the basis of the provisions of the revitalized peace agreement.

We cherish the hope that the South Sudanese government and opposition would support from African countries will show political wisdom and will manage to prevent a further escalation of the armed confrontation. And will revert back to the approach of the revitalized peace agreement to resolve the conflict in the country, including constituting unified armed forces as a guarantee for advancement in the peace process. The matter of the timelines here, we believe, would be well advised to leave to this discretion of Juba. Insofar as hastily taken steps, including political measures, are liable to unleash a new wave of internal violence. We have taken note of the decision in December of the eminent South Sudanese political parties.

The decision not to extend the transitional period and the embrace of conduct in December of nationwide elections on the basis of the transitional constitution of the country and the existing voter rolls. We believe that the revitalized peace agreement as the sole framework for the advancement of the political process remains fully relevant and in force. We believe that this decision, if it is approved definitively, will merely be a recalibration of the Priorities, not an abandonment of the agreement itself. Only the South Sudanese can determine how to put together stable government bodies. At the same time, it is important to deliver assistance to the country in order to remove possible risks of the situation escalating in the lead up to the elections.

We are very much concerned by the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. A situation that has been escalated. Escalated by the seasonal disasters as well as the flows from neighboring Sudan of hundreds of thousands of refugees and South Sudanese returning to their homes. A key component for the country's progress towards peace is the activity of the UN Mission in South Sudan. Unmiss.

We trust that the existing financial difficulties notwithstanding, it will continue to provide support and facilitate the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. We strongly condemn any acts of violence which are geared towards. Which are targeting the Blue Helmets, humanitarian representatives and civil society and civil and civilians. We believe it is important for the UN Secretariat and the Mission itself that they are engaged in direct and frank dialogue with the South Sudanese government. Dialogue focused on modalities of reducing the UN presence in the country.

We hope that through such constructive discussions it will be possible to reach agreement on mutually acceptable solutions on problematic issues, including the further use by UNMIS of the WAW and BENTU bases. It is important that the South Sudanese are open to cooperation with the mission and they are not interested in its exit. The Russian Federation stands ready to encourage and facilitate this approach of the Juba. There's a need to remove any unnecessary alarmism or the fermenting of tensions on the topic of reduction of the UN presence. Otherwise, there is a significant risk of definitively poisoning Juba's relationship with unmis.

The fraught situation in the Republic of South Sudan poses a grave threat to the entire sub region, creating fertile ground for large scale destabilization. Given the porosity of borders which facilitate the spillover fighters and the growth of illegal trafficking and weapons. We are troubled by reports about the possible use of the territory of neighboring states to fuel the conflict in Sudan. We consistently note the perniciousness of the arms embargo against South Sudan. This is a regime whose revision or easing has been advocated by, among others, representatives of the African continent.

This regime is the chief obstacle to constituting and equipping a unified army. Clearly, the existing exemptions are not enough when it comes to addressing the magnitude of national security concerns. We shall continue to advocate the easing and complete lifting thereof. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for their statement. I give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you. Mr. President, I thank USG Lacroix, Major General Ovino and Mr. Yakani for their briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in this meeting.

Pakistan shares the concerns that have been expressed around the table regarding the volatility of the political and security situation in South Sudan. Recent developments underscore how fragile the peace remains and how severe the risks are for the country to relapse into widespread conflict. Conflict at this critical juncture it is imperative to prevent another descent into violence. The cost of failure would be borne first and foremost by the South Sudanese people and would have profound regional consequences. It is time therefore for more and deeper engagement and not distancing or abandonment.

In the overall context. The revitalized peace agreement remains paramount. It is the only viable and consensual framework capable of preventing fragmentation, restoring political trust and guiding the country towards stability. Further undermining or bypassing this framework risks reversing hard won gains and reopening fault lines that could plunge South Sudan back into chaos. We therefore encourage all South Sudan stakeholders to recommit to the agreement in good faith and to address their differences through an inclusive dialogue.

It is the time for renewed national consensus. Pakistan also underscores the essential role of the African led regional initiatives in supporting the peace process. The sustained engagement of igard, the African Union and neighboring states remains indispensable in easing tensions, facilitating dialogue and preserving regional stability. We welcome coordinated efforts aimed at de escalation and encourage continued alignment between regional mechanisms, the UN and the South Sudanese actors to ensure coherence and effectiveness. President against this backdrop, the role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan is more vital than ever.

As USG Lacroix also mentioned, the presence of UNMAS matters and there is a continued need for the Mission to remain operational and robust. UNMISS continues to serve as a stabilizing role at a time of heightened political uncertainty, intercommunal violence and regional spillover risks. Its contribution to the protection of civilians, deterring violence, mitigation of intercommunal conflict and facilitation of humanitarian access remains indispensable. The upcoming renewal of UNMIS is therefore of critical importance and should preserve the Mission's core capacities which are urgently needed to support the South Sudanese people and prevent further deterioration of the situation. We also underline the importance of of full respect for the Status of Forces agreement and for ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel.

We take note of the progress made in the implementation of the UNMES contingency plan, including the near completion of repatriations, issues regarding VOW and BENQ bases, and appreciate the cooperation extended thus far. At the same time, we note with concern the SG's assessment of the operational impact of the ongoing liquidity crisis on unmas. In an already fragile environment. Reductions in mission capacity carry serious risks for the protection of civilians and the safety and security of UN personnel. The reported decline in patrols, reduced reach and other implications underscore the real consequences of resource shortfalls on mandate delivery.

The gravity of challenge is evident from the fact that out of the 17,000 troops sanctioned by this Council to implement the mandate, only around 9,700 currently remain in unmasked. These challenges are further compounded by the regional spillover of the conflict in the Sudan. Developments around Heglag, including attacks on oil infrastructure, shifting control of territory and cross border incidents, highlight the increasingly interconnected nature of instability in the region. The arrival of approximately 1.3 million people fleeing the conflict in Sudan since April 2023 has placed additional strains on South Sudanese already strained systems. In this context, further weakening unmeshed capacities would be particularly ill timed and counterproductive.

Pakistan therefore joins the Secretary General in urging all Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time. UN peacekeeping was put in place by the international community to precisely address the kind of issues arising in situations such as South Sudan. It has had real impact on the ground in protecting the people and in stabilizing the situations. The Security Council must remain central in playing that important role for the maintenance of international peace and security. President Pakistan remains fully committed to supporting unmas, the Revitalized Peace Agreement and regional efforts aimed at securing lasting peace and stability in South Sudan.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Senor President Mr. President, I wish to thank Mr. Jean Pierre Lacroix, Major General Oino and Mr. Yakani for their briefings which confirm that South Sudan is experiencing one of the most critical junctures since the revitalized agreement was signed. The simultaneous deterioration of the political, security and humanitarian situations described in the Secretary General's report is an unequivocal warning and a call for this Council to act. The situation in South Sudan shows that the main challenge currently is not the absence of a peace framework, but rather the urgent need to fully implement the revitalized agreement.

Colombia is extremely concerned to see it stagnating and even to see backsliding on the commitments made shown by unilateral attempts to amend fundamental provisions and by the proliferation of parallel structures of governance outside of the Agreed framework. These developments do not only undermine trust between the parties, but also the very spirit of an instrument that was designed to be the legitimate framework for the political transition and for the prevention of a return to armed conflict. This imperils the legitimacy of the electoral process and entrenches the political and social fragmentation, increasing the risk of a further escalation of violence. Colombia understands that the path towards fulfilling peace agreement is not linear, nor is it easy. From our own experience, we recognize that the implementation phase tends to be the most difficult and demanding.

And that's why we wish to underscore that the value of an agreement lies in the comprehensive respect for what was agreed, and also in good faith from the parties and in understanding that respecting the commitments made is a political imperative and an essential condition in order to preserve the credibility of the peace process, but also to prevent fresh outbreaks of cycles of violence. In this context, it is essential to strengthen international support, including the role of UNMISS and of this Council in order to support the implementation of the agreement, to preserve the integrity of the transition process and to contain the degradation of the security and human rights situation. Mr. President, when implementation falls short, we see the direct consequences on the ground. This is shown by an increase to hostilities and confrontations between government forces and armed opposition groups, as well as an increase in inter communal violence. These dynamics have direct and devastating consequences on the civilian population, reflected in forced displacement, sexual and gender based violence and the recruitment and use of children, which are grave violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law.

There can be no sustainable peace without dignity and this begins with the absolute respect for life, integrity and human rights. Violence against civilians is incompatible with any genuine process to transition to peace. This is why we underscore the importance of taking immediate actions to de escalate and to ensure maximum containment. This will only be possible through a return to inclusive dialogue as the only way of preserving the provisions of the revitalized agreement. Mr. President, the people of South Sudan deserve something better than an undefined transition marked by violence, suffering and exclusion.

They deserve a credible implementation of the revitalised agreement, which is a role for which UNMISS and their role that they play is essential. Colombia believes that it is necessary for this Council to continue to provide UNMISS with the political and operational backing it requires, as well as the resources they need to be able to fully carry out their mandate. We reiterate our preparedness to continue to contribute from this Council to collective efforts to protect the civilian population and support sustainable peace in South Sudan. We reaffirm our commitment to the collective efforts to achieve a peaceful South Sudan that is inclusive and stable, convinced of the fact that international support as well as regional mediation remain key to turning this hope into a reality. Thank you very much.

Thank the representative of Colombia for their statement.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United kingdom.

I thank USG Lacroix, Major General Agre Oeno and Mr. Yakani for their valuable briefings.

We have heard clearly today how the situation in South Sudan is deteriorating and requires coordinated international attention and pressure. Today I will address three key elements. Firstly, the worsening security situation, then the imperative for humanitarian access, and thirdly, the practical steps towards political process for peace.

First, the United Kingdom condemns the recent escalating military offensives across South Sudan since last March, including attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We condemn reported ethnically based hate speech and reported increased recruitment and use of child soldiers, reminiscent of the worst days of the civil war. We urge all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, including for the protection of civilians, and reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The UK also joins the Secretary General's calls for the safety and security of UN personnel following the appalling killing of an UNMES staff member in WAU in December.

We express our deepest condolences.

Second, it is critical that life saving humanitarian support can reach the millions needing assistance. We are particularly concerned at the situation in Jongle where violence has displaced around 230,000 people since December. 3 February airstrike on a Medec Sans Frontiere hospital is unacceptable, as is the large scale looting of a convoy carrying aid for 73,000 people in Upper Nile State between 31 January and 1 February. We reiterate our call on the transitional government to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to all areas, irrespective of political affiliation or ethnicity.

Third, it is critical that the parties return to the peace agreement. We urge the transitional government to cease proposing its unilateral amendments to the peace agreement and its removal of opposition officials. We also expressed concern at the creation of parallel governance structures which are impacting aid and delivery. The revitalised agreement is critical to providing peace to South Sudan, especially through a power sharing government. The actions of President Kiir's regime are undermining this.

The UK joins the African Union and IGAD in urging all parties to recommit to inclusive, consensus driven dialogue to prevent the slide back into full scale civil war. Thank you.

I resume my function as President of the Council.

I now give the floor to the representative of south sudan.

Good morning, Mr. President and members of the Security Council and delegates. Mr. President, allow me at outset to congratulate you for assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of February and I assure you of our delegations for full support and cooperation. We thank you also for convening this important meeting and express our appreciation to the briefers, USG lacroix, Chairperson George, General George and Executive Director Yakini for their presentations. South Sudan is grateful for the Security Council's sustained attention, engagement and support at this critical moment.

We recognize the seriousness of the concerns raised this morning here by the Security Council and the Security Council overriding objective of preventing further deterioration while preserving the hard won gains of the peace process. The Government of South Sudan remains fully committed to the peace agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan which continue to serve as the central and agreed framework for peace, stability and development. And we acknowledge the challenges facing the implementation but rest assured that we are ready and need to end the transition period with an election our people deserve. This recent incident highlighted in the Security Council's report pinpoint to the core issues post conflict states face when dealing with nation building where at times non state actors continue to find a fertile ground to operate. This situation has been a recurring problem for South Sudan since its independence and has a far reaching consequences for the civilians.

In response, the government reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding civilians and ensuring safety, safe, sustained and humanitarian access. These endeavors are undertaken to protect civilians, the United nations and our humanitarian partners in South Sudan. Mr. President, restoring peace and confidence among the parties is our utmost importance and we can report that South Sudan's peace partners have consistently demonstrated openness to dialogue and engagement with all the signators and stakeholders of the peace process. This approach seeks to resolve differences peacefully and mitigate tensions. South Sudan also underscored the importance of carefully managing the transitional period in a manner that preserves stability, maintain state institutions and advance the agreed reform norms.

We remain committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that the political process contributes to national unity, inclusivity and the respect for constitutional order. Mr. President and members of the Council, we highly value the role of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and its supporting peace implementation, protection of the civilians and promoting stability. We reaffirm our commitment to continued cooperation with UNMAS in the full respect of the Status Force agreement and welcome ongoing dialogue to address operational challenges, including those arising from global financial and logistical constraints affecting the peacekeeping. South Sudan also reaffirms and fully believe that a balanced, constructive and a coordinated international engagement is crucial to progress. In this regard, we express our deep appreciation to the international community, including the African Union, the EGAD and the C5 for their consistent engagement, leadership and understanding of the regional context.

While acknowledging the complexity of the current security and humanitarian security situation, South Sudan reiterates that the River Rice Peace Agreement remains a sole viable framework for sustainable peace and stability. We caution against narratives that risk creating false equivalence between constitutionally mandated state actions taken to protect civilians and institution and actions of armed actors operating outside of the peace frameworks. Such narratives risk emboddling spirit spoilers and undermining the compliance within the peace agreement. South Sudan seeks no return to conflict. Our people have endured ominous suffering and peace remain our collective aspiration.

We therefore call for continued balance engagement that isolates spoilers, supports dialogue, strengthen national institutions and preserve the political space necessary for peace to take root. In this spirit, we respectfully encourage the Council to continue supporting de escalation and the commitment to permanent ceasefire by all political parties and non state actors and to reinforce efforts that discourage armed spoilers and to sustain support for UNMAS and to strengthen regional and continental continental initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust and advancing peace implementation. But most importantly, and this is a very high highlighted issue, that investing in youth development to give them incentives for peace so they are not used for other reasons. South Sudan stand ready to continue working constructively with the Security Council, the United nations, the African Union, the IGAD and our neighbors, including the C5 and all parties, to stabilize the situation, elevate the humanitarian suffering and safeguard our nation's future, because this future belongs to our youth. Thank you for your kind attention.

I thank the representative of South Sudan for their statement.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. Speakers I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned.