A civil society leader on Tuesday called on the United Nations to exclude South Sudan’s delegation from participating in the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA), citing government’s failure to implement the RARCSS peace agreement.
In a statement, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) Ter Manyang slammed the government’s inaction on vital obligations under the RARCSS.
He stated that the government’s failure to deliver peace and fulfillment of basic rights continues to fuel instability, human rights abuses, and economic crisis.
“Half of our population is either living as refugees in neighboring countries or internally displaced within South Sudan. The entire nation is facing extreme poverty, while political leaders remain detached from the daily suffering of the people,” Manyang said.
Manyang said the ongoing detention of political figures, emphasizing how such actions violate the spirit of the RARCSS and render reconciliation and national unity increasingly elusive.
“Allowing this delegation to attend the UN General Assembly is not only a misrepresentation of the people of South Sudan but also a waste of international resources, especially at a time when civil servants have gone without salaries for over 36 months,” he added.
He also urged the international community to stand with the South Sudanese people not with those against progress of peace.
“The people of South Sudan deserve durable peace, not diplomatic representation that does not reflect their suffering or aspirations. The international community must stand with the people, not with those who perpetuate their misery,” he stressed.
Despite this mounting criticism, South Sudan is set to participate in the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), scheduled to take place in New York from September 23 to 29, 2025.
Vice President for Service Cluster, Josephine Joseph Lagu, will lead the country’s delegation.
The announcement was made during her meeting with UN Deputy Special Representative Anita Akiki, where key topics of peace, governance, and humanitarian concerns were discussed.
Peace deal implementation in limbo
The CPA leader’s appeal comes amid recurring delays in the implementation of the R-ARCSS, signed in 2018, despite pressure from regional and international bodies.
In March 2025, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) warned of a “deeply concerning” political and security context, urging progress on force unification, detainees releases, constitution-making, and preparations for December 2026 elections.
However, in the same month, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on South Sudan’s leaders to end “politics of confrontation,” release detainees, and restore unity government structures, warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis affecting over 9 million people, but has been all in vain.
Last year at the 79th UNGA in September 2024, Ex-Foreign Minister Ramadhan Abdalla Mohammed Goc acknowledged the delays in the R-ARCSS implementation and stressed the government’s continued commitment to the peace process.
He also noted the recent agreement to delay general elections by 24 months to ensure security mechanisms and election institutions are in place and appealed for financial and technical support from the international community.
