The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for another year, as political instability and fears of renewed violence escalate in the world’s youngest country.
On Thursday, the Council approved the resolution—drafted by the United States and supported by 11 other member states—to continue the operations of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until April 30, 2026. The extension allows peacekeepers to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians, support the implementation of the 2018 peace accord, facilitate humanitarian access, and monitor human rights abuses.
China, Russia, and Pakistan abstained from the vote, citing concerns over specific language in the resolution.
The decision follows a temporary nine-day extension granted in late April to allow further diplomatic consultations. It comes at a critical time for South Sudan, where increasing political tensions—particularly between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar—have raised alarm over the potential return to armed conflict.
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNMISS, recently warned the Security Council that the 2018 peace agreement is on the verge of collapse. He highlighted that Machar’s detention, alongside growing political mistrust and ethnic polarization, could trigger widespread violence.
“The current situation draws troubling parallels with the deadly conflicts of 2013 and 2016,” Haysom told the Council, referring to previous wars that claimed over 400,000 lives.
Under the renewed mandate, UNMISS will maintain 17,000 troops and 2,101 police officers, including personnel focused on legal and judicial reform. The Security Council indicated that these numbers could be revised depending on the evolving security landscape.
The resolution also criticized delays in the peace process, urging South Sudan’s leaders to restore trust and work cooperatively. It called on the transitional government to uphold commitments to organize inclusive, democratic elections and condemned acts of sexual violence, the use of child soldiers, and the obstruction of humanitarian operations.
U.S. Acting Ambassador Dorothy Shea appealed to the global community to act swiftly, stressing that ongoing threats against civilians and peacekeepers—such as calls to evacuate strategic bases—could worsen the crisis.
“The day when South Sudan no longer needs a peacekeeping mission will be a day of hope,” Shea said.
Pakistan’s Deputy Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon explained his country’s abstention, saying the resolution contained “politically charged” language, though he affirmed Pakistan’s continued support for UNMISS as a stabilizing force.
UNMISS was first established in 2011, shortly after South Sudan gained independence from Sudan. It remains one of the UN’s largest and most critical missions, operating in a highly fragile and volatile political environment.