Financially-strained UN Mission in restive South Sudan 'remains indispensable': Pakistan

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2026) Pakistan, which contributes troops to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has warned that funding shortfalls were weakening the Mission's capacity to protect civilians, ensure safety, and maintain political stabilization in the world’s youngest, yet highly fragile, nation.

"The ongoing liquidity crisis is affecting UNMISS mandate implementation, while year long delays in reimbursements continue to place additional strain on troop- and police-contributing countries," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Friday.

"Pakistan believes, weakening UNMISS capacities at this stage would risk undermining protection of civilians efforts and reducing the Mission’s ability to support political stabilization," the Pakistani envoy said, during a debate on the situation in South Sudan, which won independence in 2011.

“We advise against moving in that direction,” he said, adding that the Mission “remains indispensable”.

For example, in the city of Bentiu — where years of severe flooding affect over 300,000 people — Pakistani engineers have constructed more than 80 kilometres of protective dykes and berms, helping safeguard displaced communities and humanitarian supply routes.

In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad voiced concern over the political and security situation in the country, and urged all stakeholders to recommit to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement’s full implementation through inclusive dialogue.

As South Sudan moves toward the planned elections in December 2026, he said serious political, technical and financial challenges persist, with progress on transitional security arrangements and institutional preparations remaining uneven and economic and humanitarian pressures continuing.

"These realities underline the need for coherent support that helps create conditions for a credible transition."

At the outset, Anita Kiki Gbeho, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of UNMISS. said Political tensions, escalating security incidents and humanitarian pressures increasingly reinforce one another in the country. These are compounded by economic stress, climate-related shocks and spillover from the conflict in Sudan. The security situation remains “deeply concerning” amidst intensified fighting — particularly in the state of Jonglei — that has reportedly caused 40 per cent more civilian deaths and injuries in 2025 than in 2024.

“These developments,” Ms. Gbeho observed, “coincide with a period of significant adjustment for UNMISS.” Operational capacity has been reduced by 25-30 per cent, and a smaller geographic footprint has required recalibration of mandate delivery.

Reporting that political engagement, physical protection activities and humanitarian facilitation are being “more deeply integrated”, she emphasized that “even with reduced capacity, UNMISS remains a critical enabler of life-saving assistance”.