'Slaughtered Like Goats'

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the newly appointed head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), delivered a stark briefing to the Security Council: deaths and injuries in South Sudan have surged 40 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, and roughly two-thirds of the population now depend on humanitarian assistance to survive. Gbeho was appointed on 11 April following the death of her predecessor Nicholas Haysom.

Tom Fletcher, the UN's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, recently visited Jonglei state, where local women told him their homes had been burned and that people had been "slaughtered like goats." He told the Council that the world's youngest nation "stands at a dangerous crossroads."

Why It Matters

Fighting between South Sudan's national army (SSPDF) and the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) has intensified sharply, especially in Jonglei. Intercommunal violence fueled by cattle raiding, land disputes, and retaliatory attacks continues across the Equatorias, Bahr el Ghazal, and Warrap.

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan raised alarm after bodies were discovered during road works in Jonglei, warning that the true death toll may be significantly higher than reported. WHO data show 1.35 million people in Jonglei alone have lost access to healthcare after 26 facilities were destroyed or forced to close. Cholera is rising; measles persists.

Budget Cuts Undermine the Mission

Contradicting the worsening situation on the ground, the UNMISS budget has been cut. Gbeho said operational capacity has been reduced by between 24 and 30 percent. Mine clearance, patrols, and responses to humanitarian requests in high-risk areas like Jonglei have all been curtailed simultaneously.

Peacekeepers have diminished capacity to engage with local authorities, traditional leaders, and communities — weakening early warning systems, eroding trust, and increasing the risk of misinformation. Gbeho told the Council directly: "the scale and urgency of needs on the ground are not yet matched by the type of sustained commitment and investment required."

Food Crisis Goes Nationwide

Food insecurity has also reached a critical threshold. More than 7.5 million people across all 10 states will need food assistance during the lean season, which runs from this month through July. The UN's $1.46 billion Humanitarian Plan is only 22 percent funded.

Despite these constraints, aid continues. In Jonglei alone, over 113,000 people have received food this year, and UN partners have delivered more than 14 tonnes of emergency health supplies.

Historical Thread

South Sudan has endured two major civil wars since independence in 2011 — in 2013 and 2016. The 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement (R-ARCSS) brought temporary stabilization, but the renewed fighting of 2025 has cast serious doubt on its durability.

Implications [Expert Analysis]

If current trends continue, the conflict in Jonglei and Upper Nile State is likely to spread to neighboring regions. Without addressing the UNMISS operational gap, civilian casualties and blocked humanitarian access are likely to worsen. Should international funding remain at current levels, South Sudan's humanitarian crisis in the second half of 2025 risks exceeding the capacity of the international response system.