By Alan Clement
A United Nations review of peace operations could reshape the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan, as the organization reassesses how peacekeeping can adapt to evolving conflict and political realities.
According to the Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization 2025, the United Nations is reviewing the future of all peace operations.
The review follows the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which calls for peace operations to better respond to modern conflicts and political transitions and aimed to recalibrate missions to address “today’s complex threats to peace and security.”
This process could significantly affect the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), one of the UN’s largest and most expensive peacekeeping deployments, raising questions about civilian protection and sovereignty in the fragile nation.
“The work of maintaining international peace and security is more difficult today than at any other time in at least a generation,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, underscoring the rationale for reassessing peace operations worldwide.
With over 67,500 peacekeepers deployed across 11 operations worldwide, South Sudan’s UNMISS is one of the largest and most politically sensitive missions and South Sudan remains a priority due to ongoing protection needs, particularly in displacement sites sheltering civilians fleeing intercommunal violence and floods.
In May 2025, the UN Security Council extended UNMISS’ mandate until April 2026, citing rising instability.
However, South Sudan’s government has demanded a drastic scale-back of UNMISS, including the closure of bases in Wau and Bentiu and the withdrawal of 70 percent of international peacekeepers.
Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba argued that the closures are a matter of sovereignty, criticizing UNMISS for “a lack of prior consultation” on its contingency plans.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, emphasized that peacekeeping must evolve. “United Nations peacekeeping has helped countries emerge from conflict, but it must adapt to radical changes in conflict and geopolitics,” he said
The review may consider adjusting UNMISS force posture, political engagement and transition planning, especially as South Sudan’s leaders face international pressure to implement the 2018 peace agreement and prepare for long-delayed elections.
UN data show that peacekeeping missions are increasingly expected to support political dialogue, mediation and institution-building, rather than rely solely on military presence.
According to OCHA, 322,000 people have been displaced by armed conflict since January 2025, adding to the country’s 2.2 million internally displaced population.
At the same time, the UN warns against premature drawdowns. South Sudan continues to experience localized armed clashes, gender-based violence and communal conflict, risks that could escalate without robust civilian protection.
UNMISS has also supported community-led peace initiatives and local mediation, which the report credits with reducing violence in some areas.
It also emphasized supporting elections and governance reforms. South Sudan is preparing for its first national elections since independence, scheduled for December 2026.
UNMISS has been tasked with providing technical and logistical support, but political tensions and insecurity threaten the process.
The review is expected to inform future Security Council decisions on UNMISS’ mandate and resources. UN officials stress that any changes will be guided by conditions on the ground and consultations with South Sudanese authorities.
As the Secretary-General concludes, “A unified membership will be critical towards our common response to the multiple challenges of the future” a message that resonates strongly as South Sudan stands at a crossroads between fragile peace and renewed instability.
For South Sudan, the review could mean a shift toward smaller, more agile operations focused on diplomacy and institution-building.
As South Sudan grapples with displacement, insecurity, and fragile governance, the UN’s peacekeeping review could redefine UNMISS’ role. Whether this strengthens peace or leaves civilians vulnerable will depend on balancing sovereignty with protection.