The United Nations are monitoring a worsening violence situation in South Sudan, with particular clashes now erupting in the Jonglei state between government forces and opposition groups.
Jean‑Pierre Lacroix, head of the UN Peacekeeping Operations Department, told the Security Council on Tuesday that the political stalemate among the main signatories of the Revived Peace Agreement continues to heighten tensions. These tensions are manifesting as armed confrontations in many parts of the country. Both sides accuse each other of acting in self‑defence while simultaneously preparing for large‑scale fighting. French diplomat Lacroix added that there are already reports of air strikes, incendiary rhetoric, and mass displacements.
The current climate is eerily similar to the violence seen in 2013 and 2016. More than 280,000 people from Jonglei have been forced to flee, many sheltering in makeshift camps with insufficient supplies. While more than 10 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance, the movement of aid workers and supplies remains heavily restricted.
Lacroix urged the Council to send a clear, unified message: attacks on health facilities, medical personnel, humanitarian workers, infrastructure, and assets are unacceptable. He called on the international community to compel South Sudan’s political actors to withdraw from the dangerous brink, re‑engage in dialogue, and reach a consensus on further action, while also ensuring adequate humanitarian funding.
