The United Nations Security Council on Friday warned that spiralling violence in South Sudan could push the country back towards full-scale conflict, cautioning that those responsible for war crimes may be held accountable.
In a statement, the 15-member body pointed to intensifying clashes in Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria, saying the unrest is threatening national stability and reversing hard-won gains.
Council members called on all sides to immediately halt fighting and settle their differences through dialogue, not force.
They said the worsening security situation is driving up humanitarian needs and placing further strain on already fragile aid operations.
The violence is also hampering the work of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, limiting its ability to carry out its mandate.
The council stressed the need for sustained and constructive cooperation between the South Sudanese government and the UN mission.
Members voiced alarm over reported demands to shut down key UN bases in Wau and Bentiu, warning such moves would significantly weaken peacekeeping operations, including those linked to Abyei.
Closing the bases, they said, would undermine efforts to protect civilians and stabilise the country.
The council also urged South Sudan’s leaders to engage in genuine inter-party talks over possible revisions to the 2018 peace deal, insisting any changes must be handled through an inclusive and transparent political process.
According to the UN, the latest clashes have reached levels not seen since 2017, raising fears of a renewed civil war.
Some of the fiercest fighting has erupted in Jonglei, near the Ethiopian border, where government forces are battling opposition fighters loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition, reviving memories of the country’s brutal past.
