Security Council Briefing – South Sudan (April 2025)

What’s Happening:
This month, the Security Council will discuss the situation in South Sudan and review the latest UN report. Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), will provide updates on the country’s political and security situation. The Council will also decide whether to renew UNMISS’s mandate before it expires on 30 April.

Key Developments:

• Fighting in Upper Nile: In February, violence broke out between government forces and Nuer youth militias linked to Vice-President Riek Machar. A UN helicopter was attacked on 7 March, killing one crew member and injuring two.
• Political Tensions: After the clashes, several SPLM-IO officials were arrested, and Machar’s home was surrounded. Uganda sent troops to the capital at South Sudan’s request. On 18 March, SPLM-IO withdrew from the peace process, warning the peace deal is at risk.
• Human Rights Issues: A UN report raised concerns about ongoing abuses, including killings and child recruitment.
• UN Base Dispute: The government has asked UNMISS to leave its Tomping base near Juba airport, which the UN says is critical for operations.

Main Issues for the Council:

• Preventing a return to civil war
• Ensuring progress on peace deal commitments like unified forces and election planning
• Deciding how UNMISS should adapt to worsening conditions
• Responding to regional instability from the Sudan conflict

Council Views:
Council members agree violence must stop but differ on how to respond. The U.S. is more critical of South Sudan’s leadership, while China, Russia, and some African countries highlight the government’s challenges and call for easing sanctions.

Outlook:
With tensions rising, the Council must make key decisions about UNMISS’s future role and how to support South Sudan’s fragile peace process.