Un warns of escalating violence and deepening crisis in South sudan

United Nations officials have warned that South Sudan’s path toward peace is faltering as violence intensifies across the country. Addressing the UN Security Council, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN under secretary-general for peace operations, said the situation has taken a “dangerous turn,” marked by repeated ceasefire breaches, airstrikes, and clashes between factions that had signed the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.Lacroix stressed that despite growing instability, the peace accord remains the only viable roadmap for South Sudan’s long-term stability. He cautioned that elections scheduled for December 2026 are unlikely to be held peacefully under the current conditions, urging political leaders to restore dialogue and prevent the total collapse of the fragile truce.

Humanitarian conditions worsening rapidly

The UN peacekeeping chief described the humanitarian crisis as “catastrophic,” noting that over 7.5 million South Sudanese face acute food shortages, with 28,000 on the brink of famine. More than one million people have been displaced by floods, while the influx of refugees fleeing Sudan’s conflict has placed additional pressure on limited resources.

“Human suffering continues to rise,” Lacroix said, highlighting widespread reports of sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings. He appealed to all parties to end hostilities and reaffirmed that the Revitalized Peace Agreement remains South Sudan’s only path to lasting peace.

Women and girls most affected

Sima Sami Bahous, executive director of UN Women, told the Council that the country’s fragile institutions and social divisions have been deepened by the war in neighboring Sudan. “As in every conflict, women and girls are hit hardest,” she said, pointing to widespread sexual violence, kidnappings, and food insecurity.

Bahous urged the international community to prioritize women’s participation in peacebuilding, warning that reduced peacekeeping operations would leave them even more vulnerable. “There is no more proven pathway to sustainable peace than women’s leadership and inclusion,” she emphasized.

Call for renewed international engagement

Both Lacroix and Bahous called for stronger regional and international involvement to revive South Sudan’s peace process before it collapses completely. They underlined that global support, particularly from countries such as Türkiye that advocate for stability and humanitarian protection, remains vital to preventing another cycle of conflict and displacement.