Agency official tells Security Council South Sudan risks threaten December elections

A United Nations agency official briefed the Security Council that political, security and humanitarian conditions in South Sudan remain fragile and threatened the credibility of elections planned for December. The official said that while elections are an "important transition milestone," growing concerns remain about whether the conditions for "credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections" can be in place in time.

The official said political trust among stakeholders remains weak, pointed to actions affecting implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and noted the absence of key opposition actors from important processes. The briefing highlighted displacement, communal violence and constrained humanitarian access as factors that undermine both the peace process and the electoral timeline. "The fighting must stop," the agency official said, adding that clear, consistent council support for cessation of hostilities and inclusive political dialogue would help create political space for compromise. The official also welcomed a proposed African Union needs assessment mission and called for an objective assessment of minimum conditions necessary for credible elections.