The UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom has stated that there is no willingness for another extension of the transitional period in South Sudan. He emphasizes the need for leaders to focus on fulfilling peace agreement benchmarks, urging for urgent reforms and preparations for elections scheduled in December 2026. Haysom also highlighted the continued challenges posed by political delays and ongoing communal violence, stressing that further international support hinges on the demonstration of political will by South Sudan’s leaders.
On February 5, 2025, Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), addressed the Security Council, emphasizing the urgent need for South Sudanese leaders to adhere to the benchmarks outlined in the peace agreement. He expressed that there is currently no willingness to extend the transitional period any further and highlighted the citizens’ expectations for tangible progress in governance. Haysom acknowledged improvements in certain areas, particularly from governors striving to enhance civic and political participation in their states.
During the briefing, Haysom underscored the importance of expediting security sector reforms, preparing for elections, and updating constitutional and judicial frameworks. He pointed out the looming deadlines for an extended transitional period and urged leaders to handle multiple critical issues without delay. Despite some achievements in frameworks for security management and community violence reduction, key criteria, especially related to the December 2026 elections, remain unmet.
Haysom noted that significant challenges persist, such as insufficient deployment of unified security forces and the need for effective voter education and political party conduct agreements. He criticized the lack of a cohesive operational timetable for the upcoming elections and attributed the slow progress to delays in government funding and decision-making processes.
The UN official also highlighted the ongoing issue of communal violence, which severely impacts vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. Recent violent incidents in Western Equatoria and the presence of illegal checkpoints illustrate the precarious security situation in the region. He remarked on the misalignment of constitutional and census timelines with the electoral framework for December 2026, significantly hindering the elections’ preparatory efforts.
Haysom cautioned that without demonstrable political will to implement essential benchmarks, the international community will be less likely to provide financial resources to support the peace agreement’s initiatives, including the elections. As South Sudan current experiences humanitarian and security crises, the situation remains delicate as the electoral period approaches. Haysom reassured that UNMISS will continue to prioritize civilian protection, uphold human rights, and maintain the peace process to support South Sudan’s transition to stability and democracy.
South Sudan has faced immense challenges since its independence in 2011, including ongoing conflict, humanitarian crises, and political instability. The country entered a transitional period following a peace agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes among its leaders. The UN and various international entities have been closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for commitment to reforms and adherence to timelines for elections to foster stability and democracy in South Sudan. The recent remarks by UNMISS’s head signal the urgency for South Sudan’s government to act decisively to deliver on peace promises, particularly with the elections scheduled for December 2026.
The remarks from Nicholas Haysom underline the UN’s stance against further extensions of the transitional period in South Sudan. They call for immediate action from South Sudanese leaders to meet the established benchmarks of the peace agreement, expedite necessary reforms, and ultimately, prepare for the upcoming elections. Ongoing challenges, such as communal violence and government decision-making delays, continue to threaten progress, necessitating a concerted effort from all stakeholders to move toward stabilization and democratization in the country.
Original Source: sudantribune.com
