South Sudan peace deal at serious risk as violence surges, UN warns
February 10 2026 (UNITED NATIONS) – The 2018 South Sudan peace agreement is at serious risk of collapse, raising fears that the world’s newest country could relapse into full-scale civil war, UN officials and Security Council members warned on Monday.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Council that “political deadlock among the main signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to drive heightened tensions, manifesting in armed confrontations in many parts of the country.”
Violence has escalated sharply in recent weeks, particularly in Jonglei, displacing more than 280,000 people amid clashes between government and opposition forces, aerial bombardments and severe restrictions on humanitarian access, he said.
“Communities that remember all too well the violence of 2013 and 2016 are again on the move,” Lacroix added.
George Aggrey Owinow, interim chairperson of the body monitoring the peace deal, said opposition representatives have been removed from government and leaders, including Vice-President Riek Machar, remain in detention, placing implementation “in serious jeopardy.”
Denmark’s representative told the Council: “South Sudan is on the brink of collapse.” Latvia’s delegate warned of “dangerous echoes of the past.”
The United States representative said “any further non-cooperation by South Sudan will constitute a threat to the Mission’s viability,” while the UK condemned a February 3 air strike on a Médecins Sans Frontières hospital and large-scale looting of an aid convoy in Upper Nile State.
France’s representative called repeated obstructions to UN peacekeeping troop movements “unacceptable.”
However, China and Russia struck a different tone. Beijing urged the Council to provide “time and space” for African diplomatic efforts, while Moscow warned against “unnecessary alarmism” and called for easing the arms embargo on South Sudan.
South Sudan’s ambassador insisted Juba remains “firmly committed” to the peace agreement.
The UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan is nearing completion of cost-reduction measures while continuing to protect civilians, Lacroix said, calling for continued Council support.