U.N. warns South Sudan risks another delay in transition, urges steps on elections, security and justice

A United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) representative told the U.N. Security Council on Feb. 20, 2025, that the start of an extended transitional period marked the fourth extension of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement and that "there is no appetite for another extension."

The representative said progress had been recorded in four areas — civic and political space, access to justice, security arrangements and election preparedness — but warned those measures alone were "not sufficient" to meet the 10 critical conditions required for elections and adoption of a new constitution. The briefing listed immediate steps the parties and regional partners should take to demonstrate political will.

The UNMISS representative summarized gains on civic and political space, citing commitments from a 2024 governors' forum that included a resolution proposing repeal of specified sections of the National Security Services Bill and declarations by state governors to expand civic and political space. On justice, the representative highlighted the deployment of mobile courts in Unity State using local…