China Expands Security Cooperation with South Sudan

 Horn Review published on 12 August 2026 a commentary titled "South Sudan and China's Evolving Overseas Security Strategy" by Abraham Abebe.

In July, China committed to deepening military cooperation with South Sudan by continuing its support for the UN peacekeeping mission as the backbone of its contribution.  Beyond this, China's support seems to be limited to expanding its military dialogue with South Sudan and increasing military exchanges.

Status of the UN Mission in South Sudan

 The Stimson Center published on 24 June 2026 a report titled "The UN Mission in South Sudan in the Context of Changing Security and Regional Dynamics."

The report concludes that the combined effects of a fragile peace process, heightened political tensions, economic deterioration, the spillover of conflict from Sudan, the emerging Ebola crisis in the neighboring DRC, and growing humanitarian pressures have created a volatile environment in South Sudan.

South Sudan continues to grapple with unresolved questions surrounding the political transition and the lack of implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which remains the primary political framework for addressing the conflict and advancing sustainable peace.  

China's Peacekeeping in South Sudan

 China-Africa Security Radar posted on 1 November 2025 a commentary titled "When Peace Serves Two Masters: China in South Sudan" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.  

The author summarizes China's peacekeeping activities in South Sudan, noting that Beijing combines humanitarianism with strategic interests, i.e. the China National Petroleum Corporation's 40 stake in key South Sudanese oil fields.  

Situation in South Sudan Deteriorates

 The International Crisis Group posted on 18 August 2025 remarks titled "Briefing to UN Security Council on the Situation in South Sudan" by Murithi Mutiga.  

The 2018 peace accord, which ended a civil war in South Sudan, appears to be collapsing and the ongoing civil war in neighboring Sudan is extending instability by driving over 1.2 million people into South Sudan.  

South Sudan's Latest Crisis: Deja Vu

 World Politics Review published on 20 June 2025 an analysis titled "South Sudan's Latest Crisis Is Following a Familiar Script" by Lesley Anne Warner.

The fragile peace established in South Sudan in 2018 may be unraveling.  South Sudan is returning to form: erosion of power sharing, military fragmentation, and an apparent succession crisis.  

Keeping Climate Change as Part of South Sudanese Peacekeeping

 The International Crisis Group published on 28 April 2025 a paper titled "The Stakes of Stripping Climate from UN Peacekeeping in South Sudan" by Nazanine Moshiri.  

The UN Security Council will soon vote on the future of the peacekeeping mission in conflict-impacted South Sudan.  The paper discusses what is at stake and why climate and peace should remain part of the mission's work.  

South Sudan: Renewable Energy for Peace

 The Stimson Center published in February 2023 a report titled "Renewable Energy & the United Nations: A Green Spark for Peace in South Sudan" by Eugene Chen, Flora McCrone, and David Mozersky.

The report looks at electricity access (7 percent of South Sudan's population) in relationship to South Sudan's conflict, which is exacerbated by an oil economy, and the options to harness renewable energy as a tool for peace and development.  

Don't Forget about South Sudan

 The National Interest published on 16 March 2022 a commentary titled "The World Must Not Forget South Sudan" by Daniel P. Sullivan, Refugees International.

The author suggests three things are needed if South Sudan is to keep moving toward peace.  First, UNMISS must continue to protect South Sudanese civilians.  Second, international donors must increase humanitarian aid.  Third, the crisis needs more diplomatic attention by the United States, key donors, and South Sudan's neighbor.  

Protecting Civilians in South Sudan

 Refugees International published in January 2022 a policy paper titled "Do Not Forget: Aiding and Protecting Civilians in South Sudan" by Daniel P. Sullivan.

The author argues that the mandate for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) must remain focused on the implementation of South Sudan's peace agreement but also prioritize the protection of civilians.

Status of UN Security Council Mandate in South Sudan (in English and French)

 The International Peace Institute, Security Council Report, and Stimson Center published in February 2021 a report titled "Prioritization and Sequencing of Security Council Mandates: The Case of UNMISS" by Victoria K. Holt and Julie Gregory.  

Nearly one year after the creation in South Sudan of a transitional government in February 2020, the main pillars of the June 2018 permanent cease fire and September 2018 peace agreement continue to hold, but their implementation has progressed at a worryingly slow pace.

The report is also available in French.  

Is South Sudan Transitioning to Peace

The US Institute of Peace published on 19 March 2020 an analysis titled "South Sudan's Transition: Citizens' Perception of Peace" by Jan Pospisil, Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Oringa Christopher, University of Juba, Sophia Dawkins, Yale University, and David Deng, human rights lawyer.

The authors conclude that the power-sharing government in South Sudan set up last month is fueling hope for an end to civil war, but suggest layers of conflict remain.

Serious Human Rights Problems Continue in South Sudan

The United Nations posted on 20 February 2019 the third report of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan concluded that despite the signing of a peace agreement, human rights violations including rape and sexual violence continue to occur which may amount to international crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Justice in South Sudan

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 1 July 2017 an analysis titled "A Path to Justice in South Sudan" by Kate Almquist Knopf.

The author argues that chapter V institutions on transitional justice, accountability, and reconciliation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) have a firm legal grounding outside the ARCSS should the African Union wish to pursue them.

Famine in South Sudan

The Lancet published on 20 May 2017 an article titled "Famine in South Sudan" that documents the on-going and man-made famine. About 1.9 million South Sudanese are already internally displaced and 1.6 million have fled the country.

Fault Lines in South Sudan

The Institute for Security Studies published on 12 January 2017 a study titled "Beyond ARCISS: New Fault Lines in South Sudan" by Christina Roque, PhD candidate at Oxford, and Remember Miamingi, South Sudan human rights expert.

This report looks beyond the issues in South Sudan concerning peacekeeping and analyzes what is required for a broader and more sustainable peace.

South Sudan : The Revenge of Salva Kiir

Foreign Policy published on 2 January 2017 an article titled "The Revenge of Salva Kiir" by Cassandra Vinograd.

The article concludes that President Salva Kiir's replacement of First Vice President Riek Machar with Taban Deng Gai amounted to an internationally sanctioned palace coup, and all but guaranteed the escalation of a war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced more than 3 million people from their homes.

Can Genocide Be Prevented in South Sudan?

World Politics Review published on 22 December 2016 a commentary titled "Does Any Party in South Sudan Have the Will to Prevent Genocide?" by Andrew Green, a foreign correspondent based in East Africa.

The commentary, paraphrasing outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, suggests that even if South Sudanese President Salva Kiir is sincere about his commitment to dialogue, an environment does not exist for all stakeholders to participate with freedom and in safety. What does exist are conditions for genocide. Lacking, it seems, is the will to prevent it.

South Sudan: Conflict Dynamics in Unity State

The Small Arms Survey published in December 2016 a lengthy report titled "A State of Disunity: Conflict Dynamics in Unity State, South Sudan, 2013-2015" by Joshua Craze and Jerome Tubiana with Claudio Gramizzi.

The paper surveys the first two years of the South Sudanese civil war and analyses its underlying conflict dynamics. Since the beginning of the civil war in December 2013, Unity State, the only majority-Nuer state in South Sudan, has experienced more violence than any other state. One of the primary reasons for conflict was a dispute over the governorship in 1997, which continues to contribute to tension in the state.

Future of UN Mission in South Sudan

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) reprinted on 5 December 2016 an article from the Daily Maverick titled "Where To from Here for the UN in South Sudan?" by Meressa K. Dessu, ISS Addis Ababa.

The current UNMISS mandate will soon expire. The author argues that continuing with the same mandate would not allow UNMISS to be effective in protecting civilians and supporting the peace process. UNMISS needs a mandate similar to the one used during the transition of East Timor to independence where it exercised administrative authority and had robust rules of engagement.

Ending South Sudan's Civil War

The Council on Foreign Relations published on 28 November 2016 a report titled "Ending South Sudan's Civil War" by Katherine Almquist Knopf, director, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University.

The author argues that the only remaining path to protect South Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, restore its legitimacy, and politically empower its citizens is through an international transitional administration, established by the United Nations and the African Union, to run the country for a finite period.