In South Sudan’s troubled Western Equatoria region, thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes, fleeing violence in and around Tambura. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that the situation is now “calm,” although many displaced people have taken refuge near a temporary UNMISS base.
The harrowing story of Monica Zeferina, an internally displaced person from Tambura, illustrates the suffering endured by these vulnerable populations. “We have been here in the bush for about two weeks now,” she told peacekeepers deployed there. “We don’t know the armed men who are killing our relatives… We can’t move because we don’t have transportation to get our children to safety. It’s difficult for us.”
Colonel Shams Sittique, UNMISS Senior Military Observer, said the mission is closely monitoring the situation and working to bring the violence “under control.”
Meanwhile, in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, political parties and civil society organizations have committed to an “action plan” aimed at holding free and fair elections in two years. UNMISS hosted a three-day political parties forum in Aweil, where eight political parties and seven civil society groups ratified a plan to create “an inclusive, secure and participatory civic and political space” ahead of the planned 2026 vote.
“An open civic and political space is more crucial than ever, to enable civic and political actors to assemble freely, register their parties, have equitable access to media for their campaigns and promote their agendas, as well as hold rallies, meetings and other campaign activities without hindrance,” Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, stressed at the event.
In September, the Government of South Sudan postponed elections scheduled for December 2024 by two years, citing the need to finalize processes such as a census, the development of a permanent constitution and the registration of political parties. The new election date is now set for December 22, 2026.
This is the second time that the country, which gained independence in 2011, has postponed elections and extended a transition period that began in February 2020. Political and humanitarian challenges remain immense in this conflict-ravaged nation, where peace and stability remain vital goals to achieve to ensure a better future for its people.