Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes at the UN Security Council briefing on South Sudan
New York, 17 April 2026
Madam President,
I thank SRSG Anita Kiki Gbeho and USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher for their briefings.
I extend a warm welcome to H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, to this meeting.
Let me also congratulate Anita Kiki Gbeho on the appointment as SRSG for South Sudan and Head of UNMISS, and wish her every success as she assumes this responsibility at a particularly difficult moment for South Sudan.
We also pay tribute to the late Nicholas Fink Haysom and honour his lifetime steadfast service to global peace and most recently in South Sudan
As we approach the renewal of UNMISS’s mandate, let me highlight three points.
First, it is deeply regrettable that the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to unravel. Unilateral decisions, coupled with inflammatory rhetoric, have deepened mistrust between the parties and further narrowed the space for an inclusive transition. This is not only a political setback. It is driving violence on the ground and exposing civilians ever greater security and humanitarian risks. For example, in Abiemnhom, armed Bul Nuer militia killed 178 people, including 132 civilians, in an attack marked by indiscriminate shooting, the burning of homes and pillaging. In Nasir County, the killing of a contracted World Food Programme staff member once again showed that humanitarian workers are also paying the price of escalating violence.
We condemn these attacks in the strongest terms. International humanitarian law and the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution must be respected by all actors at all times. We are also deeply concerned by the dangerous precedent set in Akobo, where UNMISS and humanitarian actors were requested to leave ahead of military operations. At a moment of rising risk, this is deeply irresponsible. The Government’s recent commitment to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and the safety of humanitarian personnel must now be translated into concrete action across the country. Those responsible for grave violations against civilians and humanitarian personnel must be identified and held accountable, including through targeted sanctions where appropriate and necessary.
Second, protection of civilians is the core priority of the UNMISS mandate. Human rights monitoring and reporting, WPS and CPS capabilities help make that priority real. Fighting a fire no longer relies only on ladders and buckets. It depends on smoke alarms, protective gear, evacuation protocols and thermal imaging. The same applies to peacekeeping. In South Sudan, that means understanding the specific risks faced by women and girls, including conflict-related sexual violence. Recently verified CRSV cases, including 18 attributed to SSPDF, are a stark reminder that women and girls face some of the gravest harms in this conflict. It also means recognising how the adverse effects of climate change are linked to stability and compound insecurity. With around 70% of the country’s territory affected by flooding, protection becomes harder when roads turn to mud, access is cut off and entire areas are under water.
Third, the regional track remains indispensable. We welcome the continued engagement of the African Union, IGAD, South Africa, Kenya and others in support of dialogue, de-escalation and a credible political path forward. We also welcome the appointment of former President Jakaya Kikwete as AU Special Envoy. These efforts matter. But they must now translate into sustained and coordinated leverage on the parties.
Madam President,
Latvia remains committed to supporting UNMISS and to working with Council members and regional partners in support of peace, protection of civilians and a credible political path forward in South Sudan.
Thank you!