Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
November 11, 2025 Peace and security
The peace process in South Sudan is on the brink of collapse, and the humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating. Senior UN officials stated this at a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, emphasizing that women and girls are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, returning from a visit to South Sudan, reported an increase in ceasefire violations, including aerial bombardments and armed clashes between the parties to the peace agreement. He stated that the unilateral removal of opposition representatives from the transitional government violates the principle of inclusiveness enshrined in the peace agreement and threatens stability ahead of elections scheduled for December 2026.
"The room for compromise is disappearing."
"Trust between key participants in the process is rapidly eroding. The space for compromise is disappearing," Lacroix noted, adding that constitutional reform and transitional security measures are making virtually no progress.
Amid political upheaval, the country is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. More than 7.5 million people are suffering from acute hunger, with 28,000 on the brink of starvation. Floods have displaced more than a million people, and the influx of 1.2 million refugees from war-torn neighboring Sudan is overburdening already fragile government structures.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus emphasized that women and girls are the most vulnerable in this crisis: “Every day they face climate challenges, hunger, sexual violence, kidnapping, and other threats.”
According to the UN, 260 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage, were documented in 2024 alone. The situation is particularly alarming in border areas, where resource scarcity and ethnic tensions are fueling outbreaks of violence.
Funding crisis
Bacchus recounted a case in Warap state where a group of armed youths surrounded a girls' school, threatening to kidnap 100 students. Thanks to the intervention of UN peacekeepers, tragedy was averted. "For these girls, the peacekeepers were a lifesaver. It's hard for them to imagine that their protection could be jeopardized by dwindling resources," she said.
Both UN representatives expressed concern about the financial crisis facing the UN mission in South Sudan, which has already begun closing field offices and reducing staff. Lacroix warned that without flexibility from the South Sudanese government, the mission may be unable to fulfill its mandate.
Bacchus called for the 35 percent quota for women's participation in government bodies to be met. "There is no more proven path to sustainable peace than women's leadership," she emphasized.
The UN calls on all parties to the conflict to cease violence, ensure humanitarian access, and resume political dialogue. "The women of South Sudan have shown incredible resilience and leadership. They deserve better. We owe it to them," concluded Bacchus.
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