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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 12 (APP):With South Sudan facing rising instability marked by political polarization, Pakistan has urged the government to recommit to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to prevent this East African country from sliding back into full-scale conflict.
“We are concerned by the erosion of power-sharing arrangements, and escalation of hostilities that have caused civilian harm, displacement and impediments to humanitarian access,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
“These are fundamentally political challenges that require political solutions,” he said in the course of a debate on the situation in South Sudan.
The Revitalised Peace Agreement was the key safeguard against renewed civil war, but elements of its power-sharing and security provisions are fraying, the UN said.
With elections planned for December 2026 across South Sudan –the world’s youngest country — political competition risks igniting violence instead of consolidating peace.
Meanwhile, the war in neighbouring Sudan is making it all worse. Since April 2023, more than 1.2 million people have crossed into South Sudan, further straining already limited systems and resources.
In his comments, the Pakistani envoy urged all parties to de-escalate, to recommit to the 2017 Cessation of Hostilities agreement, and to return to an inclusive dialogue process.
“In this spirit,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad added, “we support appeals by African Union and others for release of First Vice-President Riek Machar and other detained opposition figures, to help restore trust and enable full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement.”
At the same time, he made it clear that Pakistan stands firmly with the people of South Sudan in their quest for peace, stability and development.
“We acknowledge the steps taken by the Government of South Sudan to engage with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other partners in addressing the challenges faced by the country.”
The Pakistani envoy warned of South Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, driven by conflict, severe flooding, a cholera outbreak and spillover from Sudan’s war, and urged donors to fund the Humanitarian Response Plan, now only 30 per cent financed, and called for protection of aid workers and respect for humanitarian law.
Underscoring UNMISS’s “stabilizing role” through protection of civilians, local peacebuilding initiatives and support for humanitarian access, Ambassador Asim Ahmad paid tributes to Pakistani peacekeepers who, he said, have constructed over 80 kilometres of protective dykes to protect thousands of people in flood-affected areas.
“Such tangible contributions underscore the importance of an adequately resourced mission. We call on the host government to cooperate fully with UNMISS and fulfill its obligations under the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement),” the Pakistani envoy said.
Referring to the current liquidity crisis, he said any reduction in resources must not compromise core tasks such as protection of civilians, facilitation of humanitarian delivery, or support to the peace process.
“The Mission’s ability to adapt flexibly to evolving realities, while maintaining robust presence in sensitive areas, will be crucial in the months ahead,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said.
With genuine political will, regional solidarity, and sustained international support, he said South Sudan can fulfill the promise of peace and stability for its people.
At the outset, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, warned that increasing ceasefire violations include widespread aerial bombardments and clashes between signatories of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Recalling that First Vice-President Reik Machar and allied opposition leaders remain detained and on trial, he stressed that adherence to due process is crucial “if public confidence is to be maintained and the trial does not serve as a trigger for violence”.
With the “trust deficit” between key players widening, the Peace Agreement “remains the only viable framework for long term peace and stability”, he affirmed.
Lacroix said that despite shrinking resources and ambitious mandates, UNMISS remains vital to preserving peace and stability through the transition. The Mission’s contingency plan includes closing some field offices, repatriating personnel and reducing staff.
Although UNMISS reaffirmed its full commitment to its mandate, and President Salva Kiir offered assurances, the Government has since issued a formal document imposing conditions that threaten both the plan’s viability and the Mission’s continued operation.