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The United States has warned that, “any further non-cooperation by South Sudan will constitute a threat to the Mission’s viability and ” will be a decisive factor in our future decisions regarding assistance, diplomatic engagement, and the Mission’s future.”

The warning was delivered by U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, during remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on UNMISS in New York on February 10, 2026.

Ambassador Locetta stated that, “The United States’ first priority in South Sudan is peace.”

However, she added that South Sudan’s leaders have “systematically undermined this goal since their independence in 2011 – they have repeatedly pushed the country back to the brink of war.”

She pointed to ongoing military operations across Greater Equatoria and Greater Upper Nile, saying they provide “stark evidence of South Sudan’s willful actions to move further from peace and stability.”

According to the Ambassador, “Violence across these two regions has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians; forced aid organizations to suspend their operations; and caused the immediate evacuation of UNMISS personnel – these actions directly obstruct UNMISS’s ability to protect civilians and catastrophically worsen a dire humanitarian emergency.”

The United States, she said, “strongly condemns South Sudan’s leaders’ actions and urges all parties to immediately cease offensive military operations, withdraw all forces, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to affected populations.”

Ambassador Locetta also expressed concern over what she described as repeated unilateral amendments to the Revitalized Peace Agreement, saying, “Any revisions to the agreement must be achieved through transparent, inclusive dialogue involving all signatories, rather than through unilateral action.”

She further called on the transitional government to lift remaining impediments to UNMISS operations and condemned what she termed interference by the host government that has imposed unnecessary financial costs on the mission.

She stressed that, “American engagement requires genuine partnership, not exploitation of our goodwill and resources.”

The Ambassador also noted that South Sudanese officials continue to fail to uphold basic commitments under the Status of Forces Agreement and have demanded the closure of critical bases in Wau and Bentiu.