Wednesday, 6 May 2026 | Author – Andrew Michael | Nairobi, Kenya| GT-News |
The United States and South Sudan have exchanged unusually sharp criticism after Washington accused President Salva Kiir’s government of obstructing peace efforts and failing to prepare the country for democratic elections.
Speaking during a UN Security Council session on the renewal of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said South Sudan’s leadership was “driving the country backward” while benefiting from international support.
“The core problem is a host government that actively undermines its commitments to peace and the mission it agreed to accept,” Mr Waltz told the council.
The United States nevertheless voted in favour of renewing the UNMISS mandate, saying the mission remained necessary to protect civilians, support humanitarian access and maintain peace.
Mr Waltz said Washington wanted the mission “back to basics” and criticised what he described as years of repetitive mandate renewals without meaningful changes on the ground.
He cited more than 480 reported incidents between October last year and March this year in which UN peacekeepers and humanitarian operations were allegedly obstructed.
“That means 480 times peacekeepers were blocked, humanitarian access was denied, repatriation flights were obstructed, bases were forced to close, and millions of dollars were lost and wasted,” he said.
The US envoy also questioned South Sudan’s readiness to hold elections scheduled for December 2026, saying preparations remained “minimal to non-existent”.
He argued that free and fair elections would not be possible unless key provisions of the 2018 peace agreement were implemented first.
Mr Waltz also criticised the continued detention and trial of the leader of the second-largest party in the peace agreement, saying meaningful political dialogue could not take place “while key leaders are imprisoned”.
South Sudan’s government rejected many of the accusations in a strongly worded response issued after the Security Council meeting.
Juba said it remained committed to implementing the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement “in letter and spirit” and insisted preparations for elections were under way.
“The transitional period will end by conducting elections in December 2026,” the government said.
The government defended the arrest and trial of the opposition leader, linking him to the Nasir violence of March 2025, which it said killed 256 soldiers and officers as well as a UN helicopter crew member.
South Sudan also denied allegations raised at the UN that government forces had contaminated or poisoned community water sources during military operations.
“The allegation… that the SSPDF intentionally contaminated or poisoned community water sources is unfounded,” the statement said, referring to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.
“In fact, South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces are sharing and drinking from the same water sources with civilians.”
The government said it remained willing to work with the United States and international partners, including UNMISS, to address the country’s challenges.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 with strong backing from the United States, but the country descended into civil war two years later after a power struggle between President Kiir and his rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar.
A 2018 peace agreement formally ended the conflict, but implementation has repeatedly been delayed amid political disputes, insecurity and economic difficulties.
The UN estimates that more than two million South Sudanese remain displaced internally, while millions more require humanitarian assistance.
