UN Security Council Briefing: Addressing the Current Crisis in South Sudan

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Overall Structure

This HTML appears to be part of a larger webpage, likely an article or report on the Crisis group website dealing with South Sudan. It’s structured into sections:

Toolbar: A section at the top with buttons for sharing (Whatsapp, Save, Print).
Article Content: The main body of the article,divided into a sidebar and the main content area.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Toolbar (.c-toolbar)

Sharing Buttons: A list (ul) of sharing options.
Whatsapp: A link (a) with the class o-tooltiplink intended for sharing via WhatsApp. The target="blank" attribute means it will open in a new tab.The tags contain an icon and then the text “Whatsapp”.
save: A button (a) with the class o-btn, o-btn--clear, etc., for saving the article. The js-save class suggests it’s tied to a JavaScript function for handling the save action.
Print: A button similar to “Save” for printing the article. the js-print class suggests a JavaScript function for the print action.

1. Article Main Content (.s-articlemain)

Sidebar (.s-articlesidebar)
Author Facts (.c-our-peopleitem): Displays information about the author, Murithi Mutiga.
Image (img): A thumbnail image of the author.The loading="lazy" attribute is used for performance optimization — it avoids loading images that are not in the viewport.
author Name (a): A link to the author’s profile page.
title (Programme director, Africa): The author’s job title.
Twitter Link (a): A link to the author’s Twitter profile.
Related Tags (.c-related-tags): A list of tags relevant to the article.
Each tag is a link (a) to a page listing all articles with that tag.

1. Main Article Body (.s-visual-articlebody)

Paragraphs (p): The actual content of the article. The style="color:black" is inline styling that sets the text color to black. The lang="EN-GB" attribute specifies the language of the text (English, United Kingdom).
link (a): A link to another Crisis Group report on food insecurity in South Sudan.Key CSS classes and Their Likely Purpose

Many classes are used for styling and responsive design:

u-: These appear to be utility classes for common styling patterns (e.g. u-pos-relative, u-top-3neg, u-fwn, u-ttu, u-fs13, u-black). They are used to set padding, margins, font sizes, weights.
o-: Often used for core components or objects (o-tooltiplink, o-btn, o-icon, o-list).
* c-: for components or sections of the page (c-toolbar, c-our-people_item, `c-related-tags

What specific measures can the UN Security Council implement to ensure accountability for attacks on humanitarian workers and the intentional targeting of civilians in south Sudan?

Escalating Humanitarian Needs & Protection Concerns

The latest UN Security Council briefing on South Sudan,held August 18th,2025,painted a grim picture of a nation grappling with a complex interplay of conflict,climate change-induced displacement,and a deteriorating humanitarian situation. Key concerns raised centered around the escalating violence in Upper Nile State, Jonglei State, and Unity State, directly impacting civilian populations. The briefing highlighted a surge in reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV), notably in areas hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Displacement Figures: Over 2.2 million South Sudanese are currently displaced within the country, with another 2.4 million seeking refuge in neighboring nations.This represents a notable increase compared to figures from early 2025.

Food Insecurity: Approximately 7.7 million people – over 60% of the population – are facing severe acute food insecurity. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reports indicate a risk of famine in several counties.

Access constraints: Humanitarian access remains severely restricted, hindering the delivery of life-saving assistance to those in need. Roads are frequently enough impassable due to flooding and insecurity, and bureaucratic hurdles imposed by local authorities further complicate relief efforts.

Root Causes of the Renewed Conflict

The briefing underscored that the current crisis isn’t solely attributable to localized clashes. Several interconnected factors are fueling the instability:

1. Political Rivalries: Persistent power struggles between rival political factions, stemming from the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), continue to undermine peace efforts.
2. Economic Hardship: South Sudan’s economy remains heavily reliant on oil revenue, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations and corruption. The lack of economic diversification and widespread unemployment contribute to social unrest.
3. Climate Change Impacts: Recurring floods and droughts are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities,displacing communities and disrupting agricultural production.Competition over dwindling resources is intensifying inter-communal tensions.
4. Proliferation of Small Arms: The widespread availability of small arms and light weapons fuels violence and impedes efforts to establish the rule of law.

The Role of Regional Actors & International Response

The UN Security Council emphasized the need for a coordinated regional response to address the crisis in South Sudan. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was urged to intensify its mediation efforts and facilitate dialog between the warring parties.

Troika Engagement: the Troika countries (United States, United kingdom, and Norway) reiterated their commitment to supporting peace and stability in South Sudan, but stressed the importance of demonstrable progress on key benchmarks outlined in the R-ARCSS.

UNMISS mandate: Discussions revolved around the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), with some members advocating for a more robust posture to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.the Council acknowledged the challenges faced by UNMISS in operating in a volatile security surroundings.

Financial Support: The briefing highlighted a significant funding gap for humanitarian assistance in South Sudan. Donors were urged to increase their contributions to meet the growing needs of the affected population. The UN’s Humanitarian response Plan for South Sudan requires $1.7 billion in 2025.

Protection of Civilians: A Critical Imperative

Protecting civilians must be the paramount concern. The briefing detailed alarming trends:

Attacks on Humanitarian Workers: Increasing attacks on humanitarian workers are hindering the delivery of aid and putting lives at risk. The Council condemned these attacks in the strongest terms and called for accountability for perpetrators.

Targeted Violence: Reports indicate that civilians are being deliberately targeted based on their ethnicity or political affiliation. This raises concerns about potential atrocities and the need for investigations into alleged human rights violations.

Child Protection Concerns: The recruitment and use of child soldiers remain a grave concern. UNICEF is working to rehabilitate and reintegrate former child soldiers into society,but the scale of the problem is immense.

Case Study: The Impact of Flooding in Jonglei State (2024-2025)

The devastating floods that impacted Jonglei State between late 2024 and early 2025 provide a stark example of the compounding crises facing South Sudan. The floods displaced over 200,000 people,destroyed crops and livestock,and exacerbated food insecurity. The lack of adequate infrastructure and early warning systems contributed to the scale of the disaster.This event highlighted the urgent need for climate adaptation measures and investment in disaster risk reduction.

Practical Tips for Humanitarian Organizations Operating in South Sudan

Navigating the complex operating environment in South Sudan requires careful planning and risk management:

1. Community Engagement: Prioritize community engagement to build trust and ensure that assistance is delivered in a culturally sensitive manner.
2. *Security