11.11.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on South Sudan & UNMISS

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Thank you, Mr. President.

I also thank our briefers for their comprehensive briefings. And I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of South Sudan in the chamber here today.

Mr. President,

The Revitalized Agreement has been deliberately undermined for the past seven years.  The erosion of political trust, and intensifying violence, continues to deter any prospects for lasting peace for the people of South Sudan. 

I have three messages.

First,

With elections barely thirteen months away, we see a troubling lack of commitment to key provision in the Peace Agreement, leaving several pivotal tasks yet to be fulfilled. In some regions, conditions resemble a return to civil war.

The entrenched culture of "winner takes all" is eroding hope for political remediation or improved well-being for the people in South Sudan. Systemic mismanagement, , has led to public resources being converted into private power. This is depriving citizens of their most basic rights, fragmenting the patchwork of governance, and leading to local struggles, corruption, and misery.

The detention of the first vice president Machar and other opposition figures are actions that undermine the Peace Agreement.  The judiciary in charge of the case must exhibit independence, transparency, and ensure proper due process.

We call for an inclusive political dialogue to unite the South Sudanese in meaningful dialogue and to build national consensus on the future of the country.

Second,

With almost 8 million facing acute food insecurity in South Sudan with a risk of famine, the humanitarian and human rights crisis is dire, disproportionately affecting women and children.

We continue to be alarmed by the sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence.  We reiterate our call for holding the perpetrators accountable and recall the obligation for all actors to comply with international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The transitional Government of South Sudan must urgently address the humanitarian crisis by allocating maximum resources to meet basic needs of its population. Further, we strongly urge the Government to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access for the UN and NGO’s to civilians in need across South Sudan.

The international community and donors must also scale up their support for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan which remains underfunded.   

Third and final point,

Denmark expresses its unwavering support for UNMISS in its endeavours to fulfil its mandate. With an extremely fragile situation in South Sudan, we are deeply concerned about the impact of the liquidity crisis on UNMISS’ ability to fulfil its mandate.

We pay tribute to the troops who put their lives at risk every day to carry out their important task in a constantly changing and complex environment. UNMISS must be able to operate without interference or imposed conditions. 

Denmark therefore strongly urges the transitional Government of South Sudan to engage fully and constructively with the Mission and to respect the status of forces agreement. 

To conclude,

Authorities of South Sudan must respect the dignity, well-being and fundamental rights of their people. We call on the transitional Government to act accordingly - demonstrating through concrete action a genuine commitment to peace, accountability, and the protection of all citizens. Denmark remains a steadfast partner in supporting the people of South Sudan on their path toward a peaceful and democratic future.

I thank you.

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