JUBA – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has announced plans to scale down its operations and reduce activities across the country following a global financial crisis affecting UN peacekeeping missions.
According to the mission, it has been directed to cut its spending by 15 percent due to severe funding shortfalls resulting from delayed and partial contributions by UN Member States. The cuts are expected to affect UNMISS’s field presence and program delivery in conflict-prone areas.
The announcement coincides with a high-level visit to Juba by Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations, who is touring South Sudan to discuss the implications of the crisis and to encourage progress in the peace process.
Upon arrival, Mr. Lacroix reportedly held a series of meetings with government leaders, including the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, to brief them on the mission’s financial situation and explore ways to mitigate the impact of the cuts.
“South Sudan is a fragile country. It is a country that is impacted massively by the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, by climate change, and by the drastic reduction of humanitarian assistance,” said Mr. Lacroix.
“The country is really at a crossroads. There is a need for international support, but we need to work together to make progress on the political front and to make the best possible case so that Member States will be convinced to continue providing assistance.”
Minister Lomuro acknowledged the crucial role UNMISS has played in South Sudan’s peace and institution-building since independence.
“UNMISS has been with us since we earned our peace under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It has supported key institutions, including those in the security and justice sectors,” he said as quoted by the UN agency.
“We will wait for the plan that UNMISS will come up with and provide input to ensure the process is smooth and has no negative impact,” he added.
Despite the looming financial strain, Mr. Lacroix expressed optimism that the mission’s collaboration with the South Sudanese government and other partners would help ease the transition.
“We are committed to continuing our work to support and protect those we serve,” he said. “There will be a negative impact because we are forced to implement the savings, but we will try to minimize it. We also need civil society’s advocacy to help ensure continued delivery of adequate resources to UNMISS and humanitarian partners.”
On October 16, 2025, the United Nations headquarters in New York warned that an unprecedented funding shortfall is threatening to cripple peacekeeping operations globally.
The organization said it may be forced to scale back patrols, close field offices, and repatriate thousands of peacekeepers due to delayed payments from Member States.
Lacroix described the crisis as “more daunting than ever,” citing that assessed contributions — the mandatory dues Member States pay to finance UN operations — have fallen well below the approved 2025–2026 peacekeeping budget.
