SOUTH SUDAN: UN Chief and President Kiir Address Rising Political Violence

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit to address the escalating political violence in South Sudan. This discussion, revealed through a statement from the president’s office, focused on the implications of a recent 15 percent budget cut to the UN mission in the country.

According to the statement shared on social media, “President Salva Kiir Mayardit met with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Peace Operations, to discuss the prevailing situation in South Sudan and explore ways to enhance collaboration between the nation and the UN.”

Lacroix reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to promoting peace and stability in South Sudan. “The conversation addressed the financial hurdles facing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which have been intensified by substantial reductions in global budgets,” he noted.

Following his visit to South Sudan, Lacroix also engaged with senior government officials and members of the diplomatic community to discuss measures necessary for progressing the peace process.

During this regional tour, Lacroix visited the disputed Abyei area, engaging in discussions regarding the security dynamics and the consequences of financial cuts on the respective UN peacekeeping operations there.

As part of a broader strategy, the United Nations is set to reduce its peacekeeping force, which will lead to the withdrawal of thousands of soldiers from various global postings. These cuts stem from recent reductions in funding from the United States to the international organization.

A senior UN representative indicated that a 25 percent reduction in the UN’s peacekeeping personnel is anticipated in the coming months, affecting approximately 13,000 to 14,000 military and police personnel out of over 50,000 deployed across nine international missions.