Acting United States Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, has criticised South Sudan’s transitional government for its continued failure to implement the 2018 peace agreement and provide lasting peace and stability to its citizens.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Ambassador Shea, in a statement expressed deep disappointment over what she described as a de facto abandonment of the peace deal by South Sudanese leaders. She pointed to recent political repression and continued military offensives as clear violations of the agreement, specifically referencing the house arrest of First Vice President, Riek Machar, the detention of his party members, and ongoing military strikes by government forces.
“These actions are not just setbacks, they are a betrayal of the South Sudanese people and the promises made in 2018,” Shea said, holding leaders from all political factions responsible for the country’s deteriorating situation.
Highlighting findings from the UN Secretary-General’s latest report, Shea detailed the human toll of the conflict, including aerial and ground attacks between April and July that displaced more than 300,000 people and killed hundreds of civilians. She also condemned the use of sexual violence against women and the recruitment of children into armed conflict, calling it a moral and humanitarian crisis.
More than 132,000 South Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries during the same period, according to Shea, further destabilising the region and burdening host nations. She noted that over 70 per cent of South Sudan’s population now requires humanitarian aid, with access severely hindered by violence, corruption, and intimidation targeting aid workers.
“The lack of political will to end this conflict and build inclusive governance has trapped generations in a cycle of conflict, need, and disenfranchisement,” she said.
Ambassador Shea urged all parties in South Sudan to immediately cease hostilities, release political prisoners, and re-engage in meaningful dialogue. She also called for renewed cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), demanding that it be allowed to fulfill its mandate without obstruction.
“We will not ignore the deliberate violations of the peace agreement. The people of South Sudan deserve peace, dignity, and a future free from fear,” she said.
Her remarks were delivered during a Security Council session that also included briefings from Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee, Chairperson George Aggrey Owinow, and Program Director Murithi Mutiga, all of whom emphasised the urgent need for action to prevent further deterioration in South Sudan.
