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UN warns South Sudan faces ‘perfect storm’ of violence, displacement and hunger
Summary
The United Nations secretary-general warned that South Sudan is experiencing a security, humanitarian and economic crisis, urged release of detained officials and called for regional and international support to restore the peace agreement and provide life-saving aid.
United Nations Secretary-General said South Sudan is facing a "perfect storm" of security, humanitarian and economic crises and urged leaders and regional partners to act to prevent a wider collapse.
The secretary-general told reporters the country faces "a security emergency with intensifying clashes, a aerial bombing of civilians, including women and children, the presence of external forces, and then ever growing regional dimension to the conflict." He warned the situation echoes the 2013–2016 civil wars that killed about 400,000 people and described ongoing "ethnic and political targeting by security forces coupled with the spread of misinformation on social media" that risks further violence.
Why it matters: the secretary-general said roughly three out of four South Sudanese need assistance, cholera is spreading, more than 1,000,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan since fighting began there, oil revenues have plunged and inflation has risen about 300%. He said these problems, combined with dwindling humanitarian funding, make immediate diplomatic and financial support critical.
The secretary-general urged South Sudanese leaders to "end the politics of confrontation. Release detained military and civilian officials now. Fully restore the government of national unity and vigorously implement the promises you made through your commitments to the peace agreement, which is the only legal framework to peaceful, free, and fair elections in December 2026." He said the United Nations mission in South Sudan is working to ease tensions and protect civilians but faces operational limitations.
He said the UN has been coordinating with the African Union and with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and welcomed an AU initiative to deploy the "panel of the wise" and the efforts of the special envoy of Kenyan President William Ruto. "We fully support the AU initiative to deploy the panel of the wise as well as the efforts of special envoy of president Ruto of Kenya. And we'll be working in close cooperation with the AU and IGAD," he said.
The secretary-general concluded by urging a clear, unified message from guarantors of the peace agreement and repeated his call that leaders "put down the weapons" and put "all the people of South Sudan First."
