UN reduces South Sudan troop ceiling, extends mission to 2027

The move comes as violence rises and peacekeepers face “repeated access restrictions”

The United Nations Security Council has reduced the size of its peacekeeping force in South Sudan while extending its mandate, according to The Hindu.

The Indian daily said the council voted on Thursday to cut troop levels from 17,000 to 12,000, with the US-drafted resolution passing 13-0 while Russia and China abstained.

The mandate of the mission has been extended until Apr 30, 2027, with a focus on preventing a return to civil war in the conflict-affected country.

US Ambassador Mike Waltz told the council the resolution aims to bring the mission “back to basics” by focusing on peacekeeping, civilian protection and humanitarian access.

The security situation in the oil-rich nation has remained fragile since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

A brutal civil war erupted in 2013 following ethnic divisions between forces loyal to Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and those following Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer.

Although a 2018 peace deal led to a unity government, the arrangement fractured in March 2025 when Machar was placed under house arrest on charges of subversion and treason.

The newspaper noted that Machar's removal triggered a spike in violence and the effective breakdown of the peace agreement, even as presidential elections remain scheduled for December.

Waltz pointed to more than 480 incidents recorded between October and March where peacekeepers were blocked, humanitarian access was denied, and repatriation flights were obstructed.

The US representative maintained that peacekeeping missions are intended to be temporary measures to help governments navigate security crises.

Russia's Deputy Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva, however, argued for keeping the higher troop ceiling, suggesting the mission must remain fully resourced to handle any potential security challenges or escalations.

South Sudan’s conflict has already claimed more than 400,000 lives, and the current mission continues to face significant hurdles, including the forced closure of bases and the loss of millions of dollars in resources.