Russia told the U.N. Security Council on Friday that South Sudan’s government requires “substantive assistance, not criticism,” as Western powers warned that the country’s fragile peace process risks unraveling ahead of planned elections later this year.
Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the security situation in South Sudan remained volatile, citing renewed clashes between government forces and opposition groups in several regions, including Jonglei, Upper Nile and Greater Equatoria.
She said ongoing military operations against what she described as “destructive elements” in Jonglei were contributing to instability, while violence elsewhere was disrupting civilian life and forcing displacement.
Evstigneeva warned that humanitarian workers face significant security risks and stressed that attacks against them were unacceptable.
The remarks came amid sharply divided assessments among Security Council members. Other Western powers, including the United States, accused South Sudanese President Salva Kiir of overseeing actions that they said were pushing the country toward renewed civil war by prioritizing unilateral control over peace and national stability.
The Trump administration also criticized Juba over allegations of forced displacement of civilians, violence and obstruction of U.N. peacekeepers.
Turning to the political process, Evstigneeva noted what she described as extensive criticism directed at the government in Juba, including allegations that it was undermining the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, which ended South Sudan’s civil war and remains the framework for the country’s transition.
Evstigneeva pushed back against such criticism, saying South Sudan’s leadership had repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, which remains the basis for the country’s political transition.
She pointed to preparations for elections scheduled for December as evidence of progress and urged the council to focus on supporting conditions for a stable transition rather than applying pressure on Juba.
“The country needs substantive assistance and not criticism,” she said, arguing that external pressure risked distracting from efforts to stabilize the economy and manage political tensions.
She also highlighted the role of regional bodies, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in supporting mediation efforts.
Russia reiterated support for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS, saying it should be properly resourced to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access.
Evstigneeva called for continued cooperation between South Sudanese authorities and UNMISS, particularly on the mission’s operational footprint and future configuration, and urged against steps that could undermine its mandate.
Russia said it would continue encouraging engagement between Juba and the U.N. mission as South Sudan approaches what it described as a critical political period.
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