By Philip Buda Ladu
The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for another year, as concerns mount over escalating political and security crisis in the world’s youngest nation.
Adopted on Thursday, the resolution 2779 (2025), introduced by the United States and backed by 11 other Council members, grants UNMISS the authority to “use all necessary means” to implement its mandate.
UNMISS mandate includes the protection of civilians, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, supporting the implementation of the fragile 2018 peace agreement, and investigating violations of international law.
The decision follows a brief nine-day technical extension approved on April 30 to allow further negotiations on the resolution. China, Pakistan, and Russia abstained from the vote.
Meanwhile the renewal comes against a backdrop of increasing instability in South Sudan. Earlier in April, the Head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom, warned the Security Council that the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, signed by President Salva Kiir and the now-detained First Vice President Riek Machar, was in danger of collapse.
He highlighted reports of political standoffs escalating into open military confrontations, while the spread of misinformation and hate speech is fueling ethnic divisions, a situation he described as “darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016.”
The resolution maintained the current force ceilings for UNMISS at 17,000 troops and 2,101 police personnel, including 88 justice and corrections advisors. However, the Council stated its readiness to consider adjusting these levels based on future developments on the ground.
The Council expressed “deep concern” over the delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement, urging South Sudan’s leaders to urgently demonstrate political will and build mutual trust through open and constructive dialogue.
Its resolution also emphasized that the “organization and funding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of the South Sudanese authorities,” calling on the transitional government to establish an appropriate legislative framework and fund the national elections.
Furthermore, the Council strongly condemned the use of sexual violence, the recruitment of child soldiers, and any interference in humanitarian operations within the country.
UNMISS was initially established in 2011 following South Sudan’s independence to help maintain peace and stability in the face of significant internal conflicts and humanitarian challenges.
Speaking before the adoption of resolution 2779 (2025), the US Acting Representative, Dorothy Shea, urged the international community to help bring South Sudan “back from the brink,” citing deteriorating conditions and recent attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
She also highlighted ongoing challenges faced by UNMISS, including the demand to vacate its Tongping base in Juba, which the U.S. diplomat said hinders the peace mission ability to effectively carry out its mandate.
Ambassador Shea stated that the ultimate goal of UNMISS should be to “render itself unnecessary by ushering in a lasting peace,” emphasizing that UN peacekeeping mandates should focus on core Chapter VII functions of the UN Charter aimed at furthering international peace and security.
Explaining Pakistan’s abstention, Deputy Permanent Representative Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon stressed that UN Peacekeeping Missions require the “complete and unified support” of the Security Council.
He argued that this becomes “complicated when mandate resolutions are unnecessarily politicized” and that mandates should be tailored to the needs on the ground, not the political priorities of individual Council members.
He noted that the resolution contained issues “which have no direct link” with UNMISS, preventing consensus.
Despite this, Amb. Usman reiterated Pakistan’s full support for UNMISS and its personnel, recognizing their dedication in difficult conditions.
The extension of UNMISS’s mandate underscored the international community’s continued concern for South Sudan’s stability as the country faces a precarious future.