The United States said Thursday that South Sudan is not prepared to hold credible elections, warning that minimal preparations, delayed decisions and lack of funding continue to undermine the country’s fragile peace process.

Speaking after the U.N. Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United States Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington backed the resolution but remained deeply concerned about the direction of the country’s leadership.

 “The United States voted in favor of this resolution. But we want to be clear about why—and what we expect to change,” Waltz said.

He said the mission should refocus on its core responsibilities, including protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian access and providing accurate reporting, while accusing South Sudan’s government of obstructing peacekeeping efforts.

Waltz pointed to more than 480 reported violations of the Status of Forces Agreement between October and March, saying they included blocked peacekeeping patrols, restricted humanitarian access and forced base closures.

“The core problem is a host government that actively undermines its commitments to peace and the mission it agreed to accept,” he said.

The U.S. also cast doubt on the feasibility of general elections, citing U.N. Secretary-General reports indicating that preparations remain “minimal to non-existent,” with key decisions delayed and funding gaps unresolved.

According to Waltz, conditions for credible elections cannot be met unless the outstanding provisions of the 2018 peace agreement are first implemented.

“So if the transitional government truly means to hold free and fair elections, it must first return to genuine dialogue among the parties,” he said.

He added that such dialogue is unlikely while key political figures remain detained, including the leader of the second-largest party to the peace agreement.

Waltz also warned that future U.S. support for elections would depend on whether South Sudan’s government commits its own resources to the process.

“We shouldn’t have foreign taxpayers being asked to fund a political process the transitional government will not fund itself,” he said.

The United States further criticized what it described as a pattern of repeated mandate renewals without meaningful change, despite longstanding tensions between UNMISS and South Sudanese authorities.

The envoy said peacekeeping missions are intended to be temporary and should not become “an endless stream of support for states to exploit.”

For the first time in years, the renewed mandate seeks to streamline UNMISS operations by scaling back capacity-building and development activities and focusing on security priorities.

Still, the U.S. warned that without political will from South Sudan’s leadership, progress will remain elusive.

“The people of South Sudan have waited long enough,” Waltz said. “And this Council’s patience is not infinite.”

South Sudan’s transitional government, led by President Salva Kiir, is seeking to amend key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement to pave the way for elections scheduled for December 2026. The cabinet has approved the proposals and forwarded them to parliament for ratification, but lawmakers have yet to table the bill.

The move has drawn criticism from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), international partners and the main opposition faction led by detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, who say the government bypassed required procedures by advancing the amendments without their endorsement.