Nicholas Haytham updated ambassadors on developments in the world’s youngest country, which was due to hold its first general election next month.
Since the last press conference in August, the transition period has been extended until February 2027, and the scheduled vote has been postponed to December 2026.
“While this was inevitable, given the deep frustration and fatigue felt by the people of South Sudan at the apparent political paralysis and inaction of their leaders to implement the peace agreement and realize the long-awaited democratic transition. “It was an unfortunate development,” he said.
steps towards peace
South Sudan gained independence in 2011, but two years later fighting erupted between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, killing hundreds of thousands of people. . A 2018 peace agreement known as the Revitalization Agreement ended the war.
In September, both parties announced that elections would be postponed until December 2026 and the transition period agreed under the deal would be extended by another two years until February 2027.
appeal for compromise
Meanwhile, Ms. Haysom, who is also head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has held intensive discussions with political leaders, civil society, faith-based representatives, youth leaders, women’s coalitions, and international partners. .
“Therefore, as the Secretary-General has said, the only way forward is for South Sudan’s leaders to urgently find compromises and implementation options and to take the decisive action necessary to achieve critical mass on key issues. “I have no doubt that we will take steps,” he said, “and that is the standard set out in the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”
But he noted that since its recent extension, the implementation of the agreement and the 2022 roadmap have been “once again put on the back burner as political interests play out at the national level.”
In addition, a stalled Kenya-led dialogue process aimed at bringing unsigned rebel groups into the peace deal appears to be restarting.
the clock is ticking
“UNMISS is clear: the clock has started ticking for South Sudan’s fourth extra time. Instead of being reset in February next year when the extra time transition begins, it starts now. Otherwise, in December 2026 We could find ourselves in the same predicament,” he warned.
“This cannot be business as usual for the parties to the peace agreement, the political elites, the guarantors of the peace agreement, and the international community. We must deliver the peace and democracy that people deserve.”
The United Nations Mission has identified six achievable benchmarks that Parties can immediately work towards. Issues covered include the deployment of the necessary unified force (NUF), citizen education, voter registration preparations, and the development of a code of conduct between political parties, civil society, and the media.
The envoy recently met with President Kiir to discuss the urgent need for progress and urged the international community to “come together on these pressing challenges.”
Listen to the interview with Mr. Haysom, recorded immediately after the board meeting, below.
UN election support
He said UNMISS is “advancing efforts to strengthen the civil and political space” while providing support to the National Electoral Commission. It is also working with 200 civil society organizations across the country to build a watchdog alliance and encourage participation in civic education and election monitoring.
“It must be emphasized that our efforts and current momentum are a product of the strong desire of the South Sudanese people to contribute to their nation-building project,” he added.
“After all, this is not a ‘United Nations election’ or a ‘foreign election’. This is South Sudan’s first post-independence sovereign election.”
Violence, floods and humanitarian needs
Turning to other issues, Mr Haysom reported on the surge in violence at the local level that is emerging with the end of the rainy season. He said the number of civilian casualties in separate incidents in Upper Nile, Central Equatoria and Warrap states was alarming.
It added that ongoing violence and flooding also continue to cause untold damage in South Sudan, hindering opportunities for recovery and durable solutions. Although aid participation has reached nearly 4 million people this year, obstacles remain, including limited resources, with around 57% of the $1.8 billion 2024 humanitarian plan funded.
Meanwhile, conflict in neighboring Sudan continues to exacerbate these challenges.
South Sudan has hosted more than 830,000 refugees and returnees since war broke out in April 2023, representing more than 7 percent of the population. This occurred amid increasing hunger and a cholera epidemic that had begun on the northern border due to infections from Sudan.
