The new head of the U.N. mission in South Sudan told the Security Council on Friday that the country is facing worsening political tensions, rising violence and growing humanitarian needs, warning that reduced resources are limiting the mission’s ability to respond.
Anita Kiki Gbeho, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said in her first briefing since taking office on April 10 that she was assuming the role “with a clear sense of purpose” to support the peace process, protect civilians and help stabilize the country.
She paid tribute to her predecessor, Nicholas Haysom, calling him a “true friend of South Sudan,” and said the mission would continue his work.
Gbeho said the operating environment had become more complex since the last mandate renewal, citing political tensions, rising insecurity, economic pressure, climate shocks and spillover from the conflict in neighboring Sudan.
She said unilateral political decisions were undermining transitional institutions, even as some limited progress continued, including civic education and public consultations by the National Constitutional Review Commission with UNMISS support.
On security, she reported intensified fighting between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition, particularly in Jonglei State, alongside ongoing intercommunal violence in parts of the Equatorias, Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap regions.
U.N. human rights reporting showed a 40% increase in deaths and injuries in 2025 compared with 2024, she said, citing incidents including the bombardment of a hospital in Lankien.
Gbeho said nearly 10 million people now require humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. She added that more than 276,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei since late December, while over 110,000 have fled into Ethiopia.
She warned that insecurity and access constraints were increasingly limiting humanitarian operations.
The UNMISS chief said the mission had undergone a contingency-driven reduction of about 25% to 30% in operational capacity, resulting in a smaller footprint and tighter prioritization of activities.
She said the mission was integrating political engagement, protection work and humanitarian support more closely, focusing mobile operations where they can have the greatest preventive impact.
Gbeho cited adjustments to protection strategies, including changes at the Malakal Protection of Civilians site in Upper Nile, which she said had enabled expanded patrols and humanitarian escorts along the Nile River.
Despite constraints, she said UNMISS continued to support aid delivery, including temporary deployments in response to violence in Akobo and Abiemnhom that helped prevent escalation and maintain access.
However, she cautioned that such extensions were not financially sustainable under current budget conditions.
She also warned that reduced mine action capacity was slowing clearance of explosive hazards, affecting patrols and humanitarian movement in high-risk areas.
Gbeho said the reduced field presence was weakening early warning systems and community engagement, increasing risks of misinformation and undermining trust.
She said the mission continued to produce credible human rights reporting, which had contributed to some improvements in detention practices and the release of arbitrarily held detainees. UNMISS also continues to support mobile courts in areas without formal justice systems.
She stressed that the crisis could not be resolved militarily and called for renewed political engagement through inclusive dialogue.
Gbeho welcomed the appointment of former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as African Union High Representative, saying it could help reinvigorate regional mediation efforts.
As the Security Council considers renewing UNMISS’s mandate, she urged continued support for a political process leading to a ceasefire, inclusive dialogue and conditions for credible elections.
She also called on South Sudan’s leaders to fully implement the peace agreement as the country approaches 15 years of independence.
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