By Matik Kueth
A senior UN official on Monday warned that South Sudan stands at a perilous crossroads as the fragile peace painstakingly built over recent years threatens to collapse under the weight of escalating violence, political inertia, and a spiraling humanitarian emergency.
Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting, Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, cautioned that progress toward peace has all but stalled, raising alarms about the risk of renewed civil war as national elections are slated for December 2026.
She said that government-led military offensives, particularly those targeting opposition troops of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), have sparked violence in various regions.
These assaults, including airstrikes by the national army, have not only killed civilians and destroyed infrastructure but have also deepened ethnic tensions and forced thousands to flee their homes.
“Without an immediate halt to the fighting, we risk plunging the country back into a more fragmented and potentially regionalized conflict,” Pobee warned, highlighting the danger of foreign actors being drawn into the chaos.
Although President Salva Kiir has reiterated his intention to hold elections in 2026, the UN expressed skepticism, noting a lack of concrete action on key prerequisites, including security sector reform, constitutional development, and electoral readiness.
Efforts such as the formation of a high-level committee for peace implementation are encouraging, Pobee said, but they must be matched by real cooperation between political factions, especially between Kiir’s government and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar.
Adding to the growing tension is the reported crackdown on opposition figures, with arbitrary detentions raising concerns about political freedoms and undermining trust between parties.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. Between April and July, 7.7 million people were affected by acute food shortages, with tens of thousands teetering on the edge of famine.
Aid operations have been hampered by funding shortages; only 30% of the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded, as well as rising attacks on aid workers and restricted access to vulnerable communities.
Still, there are glimmers of hope. Pobee acknowledged positive engagement from civil society groups, youth movements, and women’s organizations, along with steps toward judicial reform. But she warned that these initiatives risk being overshadowed unless the political leadership recommits fully to the peace process.
The UN official further urged regional and international bodies, including the African Union and IGAD, to hold South Sudanese leaders accountable and push for a return to inclusive governance, the release of political prisoners, and the creation of a secure environment ahead of the elections.