The three Western governments that helped broker South Sudan's fragile peace have issued a stark joint warning against a return to widespread violence, criticising the country's leadership for destabilising actions and a failure to govern.
International Mediators Issue Stark Rebuke
In a significant diplomatic move on Thursday, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Norway—collectively known as the Troika for their central role as mediators and guarantors of the peace deal—called on South Sudanese leaders to immediately end renewed fighting. They stressed that the focus must return to fully implementing the 2018 peace agreement which ended a devastating civil war.
The joint statement delivered a pointed critique of President Salva Kiir, accusing his administration of governing in a manner that violates the power-sharing principles agreed upon six years ago. It highlighted that the leadership is prioritising "destabilising unilateral reshuffles" over preparing for crucial elections or effectively running the country.
A Peace Process in Peril
The situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN's peacekeeping chief, informed the Security Council last month that the crisis is escalating, a visible "breaking point" is near, and time is running "dangerously short" to salvage the peace process.
Compounding the political crisis is the plight of Riek Machar, the former rebel leader who became First Vice President under the peace accord. He is currently detained and facing treason charges, which he denies, further straining the fragile coalition government.
The international community also condemned the severe mismanagement of public resources, noting that civil servants' salaries have gone unpaid for months. This failure of basic governance exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the world's youngest nation.
Humanitarian Access Under Threat
The Troika governments issued a specific warning against the obstruction of humanitarian aid groups, which provide essential services to over 70% of South Sudan's population. This concern follows a direct threat from the United States last week to withdraw aid, after accusing the Juba government of imposing exorbitant fees on relief organisations and blocking their operations.
With the nation's first-ever elections scheduled for December 2026, the statement urged all parties to cease armed attacks and resume stalled peace talks. It called for a united front from all of South Sudan's international partners, especially neighbouring states, sending a clear message: "enough is enough."
The collective warning from London, Washington, and Oslo underscores the growing international alarm that South Sudan is teetering on the brink of a catastrophic return to full-scale conflict, with profound implications for regional stability.
