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UN PhotoSOUTH SUDAN / LACROIX VISIT
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / LACROIX VISIT
TRT: 04:07
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 17 OCTOBER 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE
17 OCTOBER 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, USG arriving and speaking the Diplomatic Community in UNMISS meeting room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“The UN remains fully committed to supporting South Sudan, to supporting progress towards the implementation of the political agreement. We remain committed to supporting the people of South Sudan and we will do our best, against the backdrop of constraints, financial constraints. We explained, I explained, to President Kiir that we had to implement a savings plan and that, inevitably, this will have an impact. But I also told him that was not, in any way, a signal of disengagement, in fact the savings plan means that we want to remain engaged. We want to make sure that UNMISS and the whole UN family will be able to continue doing its work to the best of its ability as we move forward.”
FILE - JULY 2025, TAMBURA, SOUTH SUDAN
3. Various shots, peacekeepers arriving at Tambura displaced person’s camp
17 OCTOBER 2025, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“We also communicated to them that this was in no way, again, a signal of disengagement, that we remain committed, that we will work with them, that our commitment to protection of civilians remains very strong and, similarly, we want to keep supporting political efforts and that we would want to work together with the authorities of South Sudan, again, making the best possible case to the international community, the donor community, to those Member States who fund peacekeeping operations.”
5. Various shots, USG being interviewed by Radio Miraya presenter
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, United Nations:
“The UN remains fully committed to supporting them. Yes, we have to save money, but the way prepared the plan for saving, we did it very carefully, looking at the priorities, looking at where are the areas where there are more challenges in terms of threats, in terms of violence, in terms of protection of civilians. So, we will absolutely continue to do our best.”
FILE - JULY 2025, TAMBURA, SOUTH SUDAN
7. Various shots, peacekeepers patrolling
Today (17 Oct), on the final day of his visit to Juba, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the diplomatic community about the impact of the United Nations-wide financial crisis on the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The crisis caused by delays and shortfalls in the payment of cash contributions, including to peacekeeping means UNMISS will have to cut spending by 15 percent, within the remaining eight months of the financial year.
This will negatively impact mandate delivery at a time when the fragile country is experiencing significant turmoil.
As well as briefing the diplomatic corps, Lacroix shared the same information with the country’s President, Salva Kiir.
Lacroix said, “The UN remains fully committed to supporting South Sudan, to supporting progress towards the implementation of the political agreement. We remain committed to supporting the people of South Sudan and we will do our best, against the backdrop of constraints, financial constraints. We explained, I explained, to President Kiir that we had to implement a savings plan and that, inevitably, this will have an impact. But I also told him that was not, in any way, a signal of disengagement, in fact the savings plan means that we want to remain engaged. We want to make sure that UNMISS and the whole UN family will be able to continue doing its work to the best of its ability as we move forward.”
The cuts to peacekeeping come at a turbulent time as the fragile country experiences escalating political tensions and violence between forces aligned with the main parties to the peace agreement.
The Under-Secretary-General reiterated the call by international partners for a cessation of hostilities and return to inclusive implementation of the peace deal. He also stressed the need for the country’s leaders to demonstrate concrete progress is being made to secure continued international assistance.
Lacroix said, “We also communicated to them that this was in no way, again, a signal of disengagement, that we remain committed, that we will work with them, that our commitment to protection of civilians remains very strong and, similarly, we want to keep supporting political efforts and that we would want to work together with the authorities of South Sudan, again, making the best possible case to the international community, the donor community, to those Member States who fund peacekeeping operations.”
The Under-Secretary-General also seized the opportunity to reach audiences across South Sudan, through UNMISS’ Radio Miraya network, to share messages of support and reinforce the UN’s intention to stay and deliver.
Lacroix said, “The UN remains fully committed to supporting them. Yes, we have to save money, but the way prepared the plan for saving, we did it very carefully, looking at the priorities, looking at where are the areas where there are more challenges in terms of threats, in terms of violence, in terms of protection of civilians. So, we will absolutely continue to do our best.”
Despite the new financial constraints, these peacekeepers remain focused on helping to prevent the collapse of the peace deal and a relapse into widespread violence.
The priority is to help the world’s newest nation navigate the many obstacles in the way of peace and build the better future they deserve.
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