Security Council Adopts Resolution 2820 (2026), Extending Mandate of United Nations Mission in South Sudan for One Year
The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 30 April 2027.
South Sudan became the world’s newest nation in July 2011 and the UN Mission in that country was established on 8 July 2011, under Council resolution 1996 (2011). The country has faced persistent political and security upheavals, as well as a humanitarian crisis since it declared independence. In 2018, various parties to the conflict in that country signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, which led to the formation, in 2020, of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity.
The Council adopted resolution 2824 (2026) today (to be issued as document S/RES/2820(2026)) by a recorded vote of 13 votes in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (China and the Russian Federation).
By its terms, the Council decided that the Mission’s mandate is designed to prevent a return to civil war and an escalation of violence in South Sudan, monitor the peace agreement, and further noted that the Council will continue to review and assess the situation in that country, as well as the implementation of this mandate.
The 15-member organ decided that UNMISS shall have the following mandate: protection of civilians; creating the conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance; supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and Peace Process; and monitoring, investigating and reporting on alleged violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights.
It stressed that the protection of civilians and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance shall be given priority in decisions about the use of available capacity and resources, while maintaining the important role of human rights monitoring and reporting.
Reduced Troop, Police Ceilings
At the same time, the Council decided to reduce the overall force levels of UNMISS with a troop ceiling of 12,500 personnel, and a police ceiling of 2,101 personnel.
Further, it urgently called upon the Transitional Government and all relevant actors to end all obstructions to UNMISS operations and freedom of movement, and to respect the Mission’s ability to use all of its bases without restrictions, and comply with the obligations set out in the Status of Forces Agreement between the Transitional Government and the United Nations.
The text also demanded that all parties allow the rapid, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian relief without obstruction throughout South Sudan and immediately cease all forms of violence, human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law.
South Sudan Calls for ‘Evolving’ Mandate that Reflects Progress, Supports National Priorities
After the adoption, South Sudan’s representative addressed the Council, calling for a partnership based on mutual trust and constructive engagement. “As we move forward, it is essential that the mandate evolves in a manner that reflects the progress achieved and supports nationally owned priorities,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of differentiating the Mission’s mandate from bilateral diplomatic relations. “UNMISS is exclusively guided by the Status of Forces Agreement, while the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and on Diplomatic Relations guides diplomatic intercourse,” he said, calling on partners to accompany his country, not in substitution of its efforts, but in support of a nationally led path to peace and development.
While acknowledging the Mission’s important role in supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement, the protection of civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance and supporting national efforts to ensure peace and security, he underscored that the primary responsibility for these duties rests with his Government. South Sudan aims to strengthen its national institutions to assume these responsibilities, he said.
Some Council Members Welcome ‘Refreshed’, ‘Rationalized’ Mandate
However, the representative of the United States, who led negotiations on this text, said that President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s actions are driving South Sudan backward while exploiting international support. He highlighted the consequences on civilians, including “the South Sudanese family whose village was burned and whose water was poisoned”, wondering why, despite independence and peace agreements and years of UN mandates, they are still waiting for security.
“The American people are focused on getting this peacekeeping mission — UNMISS — back to basics”, he said. Year after year, the Council “just rolls the mandate over and over again and again”, without any changes, he said, adding that they spent considerable time debating mandate language “when the core problem is a host Government that actively undermines its commitments to peace”. He highlighted the 480 Status of Force Agreement incidents that took place in the last seven months. 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.
Peacekeeping operations are meant to be a temporary tool, not an endless stream of support for States to misuse, he underscored. Noting that this mandate renewal contains limited references to elections, he said that if the Transitional Government means to hold elections, it must return to genuine dialogue, and foreign taxpayers should not be asked to fund that political process.
Several speakers welcomed the adoption, among them the United Kingdom’s delegate who said the refreshed text is “credible, deliverable and responsive to conditions on the ground”. France’s representative commended efforts to “rationalize the mandate” of UNMISS. He, as well as the representative of Greece, called on the Transitional Government to cooperate with UNMISS and avoid any obstructions to the Status of Force Agreement. Latvia’s delegate, noting that “peace is never easy and never comes cheap”, also stressed the Government’s responsibility to its people, as did Panama’s delegate.
Bahrain’s delegate, Council President for April, speaking in his national capacity, highlighted the urgent need for the Council to enhance the flexibility of peacekeeping missions, taking into account dynamics on the ground and emerging needs.
“We would have preferred to see stronger language preserved in certain areas, particularly on supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and peace process,” Denmark’s delegate said, while welcoming the adoption. She hoped the Mission will nonetheless be able to carry out its critical tasks effectively. Colombia’s delegate expressed concern about the lack of references to the women, peace and security agenda, as well as the climate, peace and security agenda. Dispensing with these elements in the text will not eliminate the reality on the ground, and will weaken the Mission’s capacity to anticipate, prevent and respond in a comprehensive way, she said.
Concerns over UNMISS ‘Weakened’ Role, ‘Misaligned’ Priorities, as Russian Federation, China Object to Undue Pressure on Juba
While today’s resolution did not receive any negative votes, several speakers said they voted in favour or abstained, despite concerns about the text, in order to support the Mission. They expressed concern that the Mission’s crucial role is getting weakened and South Sudan is not receiving the support it needs.
“South Sudan remains a young nation,” said the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also speaking on behalf of Liberia and Somalia. “It does not have a prior experience in organizing national elections, whereas UNMISS does have institutional memory and the technical capacities needed to promote conditions which would be conducive to credible peaceful elections.” Merely drawing up reports on elections cannot replace the more substantive role the Mission could play, he said, adding that weakening the Mission’s political role and modifying its operational posture “does not fully reflect realities on the ground”, which are deteriorating.
The delegate of the Russian Federation, who abstained, noted that the text “rigidly” links the prospect of maintaining the UN peacekeeping presence with Juba’s progress in advancing the political process and protecting civilians and human rights. The Council has no effective indicators in this regard, she pointed out, also adding that the Council’s task is to provide assistance to the young country, “not to catch it out in its shortcomings”.
China’s delegate, who also abstained, said the text weakens the UNMISS mandate, cuts its troop ceiling and exerts undue pressure on South Sudan’s Government, at a time when the security situation is tense. The Council should give full consideration to the legitimate concerns of the South Sudanese Government, he stressed. Noting that the Transitional Government has decided to hold general elections at the end of the year and highlighting the efforts of regional organizations, he said it is necessary to enable UNMISS to assist South Sudan to advance its political transition.
Pakistan’s representative, who voted in favour, highlighted concerns he shared with China and African colleagues — in particular, he drew attention to the proposed reduction in troop ceiling, which will impact the safety of peacekeepers and their ability to carry out their mandate, given the wide geographic area covered. He also voiced concern over the Mission’s curtailed role in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement, expanded reporting requirements and the removal of language pertaining to consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries who implement the mandate on the ground.