Remarks by Anita Kiki Gbeho, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, to the United Nations Security Council [Near Verbatim]

NEW YORK - 17 April 2026

Madam President,

Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan. This is my first briefing since my appointment by the Secretary‑General on the 10th of April, and I am grateful to the Council for its confidence at this critical moment.

I assume this role with a clear sense of purpose: to lead a Mission that is responsive to a changing and challenging context grounded in partnership and focused on delivering effective support to the peace process, protection of civilians, and reinforcing stability in South Sudan.

I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, our dearly missed colleague, and true friend of South Sudan, the late Nicholas (Fink) Haysom. On behalf of the Mission, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and express our profound gratitude for his leadership. We remain committed to carrying forward his legacy.

Madam President,

Since the last mandate renewal, the operating environment has become more complex. Political tensions, escalating security incidents, and humanitarian pressures increasingly reinforce one another. Economic stress, climate‑related shocks, and the spillover from the conflict in Sudan compound these challenges.

As outlined in the Secretary‑General’s report, unilateral political decisions have continued to affect the functioning of transitional institutions. At the same time, there have been areas of progress where political will aligned. The recent completion of civic education and public consultations by the National Constitutional Review Commission in 10 states and one Administrative Area, with UNMISS support, is such an example.

Madam President,

The security situation remains deeply concerning. Fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, particularly in Jonglei, has intensified, and in some cases, been accompanied by inflammatory rhetoric. Civilians continue to bear the brunt. UNMISS Human Rights reports a 40 per cent increase in deaths and injuries in 2025 as compared to 2024. The aerial bombardment of a hospital in Lankien illustrates the human cost of the current trajectory. Intercommunal violence also persists in parts of the Equatorias, Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap, driven by cattle raiding, land disputes, and retaliatory attacks.

As the ERC will brief, humanitarian needs continue to grow. Nearly 10 million people need some form of humanitarian assistance. Since late December, more than 276,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei alone, and over 110,000 have fled into Ethiopia. Insecurity and operational constraints are increasingly limiting access to those most in need.

Madam President,

These developments coincide with a period of significant adjustment for UNMISS. The implementation of the contingency plan has resulted in a 25–30 per cent reduction in operational capacity. A smaller geographic footprint has required sharper prioritization and a recalibration of how the Mission delivers its mandate. Political engagement, physical protection activities, and humanitarian facilitation are being more deeply integrated.

The Mission continues to refine its protection strategy to focus on areas where a mobile presence has the greatest preventive impact. For example, in Upper Nile, the redesignation of the Malakal Protection of Civilians site, following a mandated review, has enabled a shift from static duties to expanded patrolling. This includes escorts for humanitarian actors along the Nile.

Even with reduced capacity, UNMISS remains a critical enabler of life‑saving assistance.

Recent experience in Akobo and Abiemnhom illustrates both the Mission’s continued relevance and the constraints that it faces.

In both locations, violence escalated during planned drawdown phases, prompting UNMISS to temporarily extend its presence to address protection risks. These measures helped prevent further escalation and enabled humanitarian access. However, they are not financially sustainable under current budget parameters.

Also, diminished mine action capacity has limited the Mission’s ability to clear explosive hazards while simultaneously supporting patrols and site security. This has resulted in delays in responding to humanitarian requests in high‑risk areas such as Jonglei.

Together, these examples underscore the protection and humanitarian trade‑offs now confronting the Mission.

Reduced capacity has also limited engagement with local authorities, traditional leaders, and communities, affecting early warning, confidence‑building, and visibility. Over time, these gaps risk eroding trust and increasing the likelihood of misinformation.

Despite constraints, the Mission has sustained credible human rights monitoring and reporting. This has contributed to tangible outcomes, including improvements in detention oversight and the release of individuals held arbitrarily.

Through mobile and special courts, UNMISS continues to support access to justice in areas where formal institutions have long been absent. UNMISS, thereby, helps to reduce cycles of retaliatory violence and rebuild confidence in state authority.

Madam President,

The challenges facing South Sudan cannot be resolved through military means. A sustained political pathway, anchored in inclusive dialogue, remains essential. There is broad agreement across political actors, civil society, women, youth, and communities on the need for a peaceful transition, even as views differ on sequencing and modalities; particularly on the “how” rather than the “why”.

In this regard, regional engagement is critical. I welcome the appointment of His Excellency President Kikwete as African Union High Representative, which has injected momentum into efforts to re‑energize political dialogue. UNMISS continues to support these efforts within the AU‑IGAD‑UN Trilateral framework, helping to promote coherence and reduce fragmentation.

As the Security Council deliberates on the renewal of the UNMISS mandate, it is important to recognize the dilemma we collectively face: the scale and urgency of needs on the ground are not yet matched by the type of sustained commitment and investment required to meet the ambition of a sustainable path to peace.

This calls for careful consideration of how the Mission is positioned to help mitigate, in a transformative manner, the conditions that allow violence to recur, and to reinforce political solutions over coercive ones.

Preserving UNMISS’ ability to support protection, prevention, and political engagement, including realistic support to the creation of conditions for a credible end to the transition, will be essential. This does not diminish the responsibility of South Sudanese leaders to implement the Peace Agreement, particularly as the country approaches the 15th anniversary of its Independence. I therefore encourage the Government to embrace peace, to take demonstrable steps, to gain confidence and meet the aspirations of their people.

I also encourage the Council to continue its unified support for a political pathway consistent with the February AU C5 Declaration, including an immediate ceasefire, inclusive dialogue, and conditions conducive to credible elections.

Thank you, Madam President.
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Contact: UNMISS Spokesperson, Priyanka Chowdhury at chowdhury20@un.org or unmiss-spokesperson@un.org