South Sudan’s envoy to the United Nations told the Security Council on Tuesday that the world’s youngest nation “seeks no return to conflict,” despite chronic delays in its peace process and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Ambassador Cecilia Adeng, South Sudan’s permanent representative, insisted Juba remains committed to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement. “South Sudan seeks no return to conflict. Our people have endured enormous suffering, and peace remains our collective aspiration,” Adeng told the Council.
She described the deal as the central and agreed framework for peace, stability, and development, even as the 15-member body raised serious concerns over the slow pace of its implementation.
Addressing the council, Adeng acknowledged that the transition has been fraught with difficulties. However, she reaffirmed the government’s readiness to conclude the transitional period through elections, stating that the people of South Sudan deserve a conclusion to the years of political uncertainty.
The South Sudanese diplomat noted that recent incidents of insecurity highlighted by the Council are a recurring problem since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
She admitted that the presence of non-state armed actors continues to pose far-reaching consequences for civilians, but she insisted that Juba remains dedicated to ensuring safe and sustained humanitarian access for the United Nations and aid agencies.
Adeng also cautioned the Council against what she described as a “false equivalence” between constitutionally mandated state actions to protect institutions and the violence perpetrated by armed groups operating outside the peace framework.
She warned that such narratives risk emboldening “spoilers” and could undermine the fragile compliance that currently holds the peace agreement together.
To preserve stability, the envoy stressed the need for a carefully managed transition that maintains state institutions and advances agreed reforms. She urged all political parties and non-state actors to uphold a permanent ceasefire, calling for a “balanced engagement” from the international community that isolates those seeking to derail the process while strengthening national institutions.
Adeng expressed Juba’s appreciation for the support of the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the wider international community.
She pledged continued cooperation with the UN mission (UNMISS) in full respect of the Status of Forces Agreement, while welcoming dialogue to address the financial and logistical constraints currently affecting peacekeeping operations.
The envoy concluded by highlighting the importance of investing in youth development as an incentive for peace, arguing that providing opportunities for the next generation is the only way to prevent them from being drawn back into violence.
She stated that South Sudan stands ready to work constructively with its neighbors and global partners to safeguard a future that she said belongs to the youth.
“South Sudan stands ready to continue working constructively with the Security Council to stabilize the situation, alleviate humanitarian suffering and safeguard the country’s future,” she said. “This future belongs to our youth.”