SOUTH SUDAN: UNMISS Leadership Announces Closure of Torit Office

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has announced the upcoming closure of its Torit office, attributing this decision to a global funding crisis that has necessitated an 18 per cent reduction in operations.

This announcement follows the recent visit of UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who briefed the diplomatic community on the financial challenges threatening the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

In a statement after meeting with Governor Louis Lobong, UNMISS Acting Special Representative Kiki explained that the Torit office is set to officially close by year’s end.

“I have come to Torit with a small team to inform the governor of our plans to close the office,” she said. “I want to assure him that while we are scaling down our presence in Torit, we are not withdrawing from the country or abandoning Eastern Equatoria. We are beginning discussions on how we can collaboratively ensure that essential activities continue and to explore ways to support state priorities during this transition.”

Kiki clarified that the decision to close the Torit office stems from global funding cuts. “We have been instructed to reduce our budget by 18 per cent; accounting for previous adjustments, this effectively translates to a reduction of about 25 per cent. This requires us to make some difficult decisions,” she stated. “Our confidence in withdrawing from Torit reflects the progress made here in maintaining peace and stability.”

Despite acknowledging ongoing challenges, Kiki reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to supporting the governor and state officials.

Governor Lobong expressed his appreciation for UNMISS’s work and acknowledged the impact of the global funding crisis. He had hoped for the Mission’s continued presence in the state until after the elections.

“It was a pleasure to receive Her Excellency Kiki and her team. They came to update us on the plan to close the UNMISS office in Torit, and we had a productive discussion about the circumstances surrounding this decision,” he said. “While we had hoped they would stay longer, we accept the reality of the global conditions impacting their operations. I assure her that our state government will work diligently to ensure a smooth transition as the office closes, and we will continue cooperating with UNMISS staff from Juba.”

The funding crisis, driven by delays and shortfalls in the contributions necessary for peacekeeping operations, poses a significant challenge for UNMISS, potentially hampering its ability to fulfil its mandate at a crucial time for South Sudan amid ongoing instability.