Juba, South Sudan – The Government of South Sudan and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) held a high-level meeting in the capital, Juba. The meeting aimed to discuss arrangements for the gradual and orderly drawdown of the international peacekeeping force. This step is intended to align the UN presence with the political and security requirements of the transitional period.
High-level attendance
The government side at the meeting was headed by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro. The UN side was represented by the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix. The meeting saw broad participation from ministers holding sovereign and security portfolios, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
The Minister of Information and Communications (the official spokesperson for the government) and the Deputy Minister of the Interior.
Key elements of the proposed plan
The discussions focused on developing a roadmap for the downsizing process, emphasizing several key pillars:
Gradualism and coordination: Ensuring that withdrawal or redeployment takes place at a deliberate pace that prevents any security gaps on the ground.
National capacity building: Strengthening the role of security institutions in South Sudan to fully assume the tasks of maintaining security and protecting civilians.
Preserving the gains: The participants stressed the need to maintain the stability achieved with international support, and to continue supporting the peace process and building state institutions.
shared commitment
Both sides expressed their commitment to the continued partnership between Juba and the international organization. They emphasized that the next phase requires intensive coordination to ensure a smooth transition of security responsibilities. This transition must be aligned with the humanitarian and security needs on the ground.
These moves come as the government seeks to strengthen national sovereignty over security matters. They coincided with the extension of the mission’s mandate through 2025 by a UN Security Council resolution. The resolution included a provision allowing for an assessment of troop size and adjustments to deployment based on developments on the ground.
Background: The UNMISS mission has been operating in South Sudan since the country’s independence. Its mandate focuses on protecting civilians, supporting the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, and monitoring human rights. This meeting is an important step towards defining the future of the international presence in light of current economic and political challenges.
