In her UN Security Council statement on South Sudan, Ms. Pobee said the peace process’s accomplishments, especially the parties’ trust and confidence, have been eroded.
“There has been an escalation of political and subnational violence and stagnation in the implementation of the Peace Agreement,” she said.
“Since March this year, military offensives, primarily involving the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces against the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition and including aerial bombardments and ground operations, have continued,” she added.
Pobee said that this has undercut Chapter Two of the Peace deal, resulting in deaths, displacements, and destruction of civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools.
The UN, African Union, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have consistently urged for a ceasefire, de-escalation, and discussion, she noted.
However, these calls have not resulted in any real responses. Instead, a pattern of violations and unilateral measures persists, undermining the Government of National Unity’s ability to implement the peace.
“There is a concern that the current military posture and ongoing operations will spur more violence and exacerbate inter-communal conflict,” Ms. Pobee warned.
“If this trend continues, it will likely lead to a shift in conflict dynamics, from subnational and community-based violence to a more complex landscape shaped by ethnic divisions involving signatory parties and other actors, including those from neighbouring countries,” she continued.
UN underscored that the ongoing spread of mis- and disinformation on social media risks further inflaming political and intercommunal tensions.
“This would ultimately undermine the cohesion and peaceful coexistence that must form the very foundation of this young nation.”
UN stated that although government officials publicly expressed their commitment to peace and elections by December 2026, Parties must take steps to return to dialogue and make the necessary decisions.
“The current security and political tensions, including the ongoing arrest and detention of opposition figures without due process, have hampered efforts to complete the outstanding transitional tasks, particularly security sector reform and the electoral and constitution-making processes,” Pobee added.
In the interest of transparency and cooperation, the UN also urged the government to reconvene the Joint Task Force on Elections and Constitution Making, as reiterated by the AU Peace and Security Council in its communiqué following the meeting on 12 June.
Besides, the UN welcomed the commencement of the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly session on 16 July, after a six-month recess.
She continued that the Council of Ministers, the central executive forum tasked with driving the implementation of the Peace Agreement, has yet to convene since March.
‘This situation underscores the urgent need for the parties to re-engage through the institutional mechanisms and decision-making bodies established under the Agreement,” Pobee stressed.
She called for the revival of multiparty government bodies and processes, which remain critical components of a pluralistic, functioning, power-sharing government.
UN also lauded the efforts of the African Union and IGAD, including the recent visits of the African Union Peace and Security Council and IGAD’s Executive Secretary to Juba.
“South Sudan is at a turning point. The Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework to break the cycle of violence in South Sudan and advance the transition towards the country’s first democratic elections, which the people have aspired for so long and which they deserve,” she affirmed.
With 7.7 million people hungry and 83,000 at risk of hunger, the humanitarian situation is grim.
Aid operations are further hampered by underfunding—only 28.5% of the 2025 response plan is financed—and attacks on humanitarian workers.
Meanwhile, George Aggrey Owinow, interim chair of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, stated that the truce has been routinely broken, including by government bombings on opposition-held areas.
He also stated that the incarceration of First Vice President Riek Machar and other opposition leaders has fueled mistrust.
“I wish to inform the council that the political and security situation in the Republic of South Sudan has substantially deteriorated,” he said.
“The current situation and trajectory in the country, if not urgently addressed, risks reversing all that has been gained and may lead to a collapse of the R-ARCSS, and return the country to armed conflict,” Owinow warned.
