Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, warned that a political standoff between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar – the two principal signatories to the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement – has now degenerated into direct military confrontation.

Volatility is mounting amid reports of renewed mobilisation by the White Army militia and South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in Upper Nile state, the alleged recruitment of children, and the deployment of Ugandan forces at the government’s request.

Misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are fuelling political and ethnic tensions.

“This situation is darkly reminiscent of the conflicts of 2013 and 2016, which cost over 400,000 lives,” Mr. Haysom said, briefing ambassadors in the Security Council.

“The overriding imperative now is to urgently avert a relapse into full-scale conflict, refocus efforts on accelerating the implementation of the Agreement, and advance the transition towards South Sudan’s first democratic elections.”

Spillover of war in Sudan

Mr. Haysom underscored the urgent need for collective effort by national and international stakeholders to secure a cessation of hostilities, preserve the Revitalized Peace Agreement and ensure an end to the continuous cycles of incomplete transitions.

The parties must resolve tensions through dialogue, build trust and confidence, refocus on the peace agreement and consensus-based decision making, and strongly commit not to return to war, he said.

“We need look no further than across the northern border to Sudan for a stark reminder of how quickly a country can descend into catastrophic conflict. This region cannot afford another crisis that could further destabilise an already fragile landscape,” he stressed