Open Letter to the International Community on the Future of Peace and State-Building in the Republic of South Sudan

At the outset, I wish to convey our profound appreciation to the members of the international community, particularly the Government of the United States of America, the Troika partners, all members of the United Nations Security Council, and the African Union and its Peace and Security Council, for their principled, consistent, and unwavering engagement in support of the people of South Sudan.

We extend special gratitude to those member states that supported the recent adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2820 (2026), which renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until April 30, 2027. This collective action reaffirms a shared global commitment to preventing a relapse into conflict, protecting civilians, and advancing the cause of sustainable peace.

Excellencies,

The resolution’s clear emphasis on the full implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) reflects a sober and accurate understanding of the fundamental challenges facing our country. These challenges are rooted not merely in political disagreements, but in the structural fragility of state institutions and the absence of a cohesive, rules-based national order.

It is increasingly evident that weak institutions have allowed parochial interests, including ethnic divisions, to undermine the national project. In this context, your collective reaffirmation that the R-ARCSS remains the only viable framework for peace sends a powerful and necessary message: that the future of South Sudan must be anchored in inclusivity, legality, and institutional transformation, not in domination by any group or faction.

We are encouraged by the clarity with which the international community continues to assert that South Sudan is a shared responsibility, a nation whose founding aspirations were supported by the global community to ensure dignity, equality, and freedom for all its citizens, irrespective of ethnicity,

religion, or region.

Excellencies,

The Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 (as amended), enshrines values that resonate deeply with the principles upheld by the distinguished assembly of the United Nations: respect for human dignity, equality before the law, the sovereignty of the people, and the rule of law. It envisions a democratic, decentralized, and multicultural state in which diversity is not a source of division, but a foundation for unity and national cohesion.

However, the realization of these constitutional ideals requires more than aspiration, it demands credible institutions, accountable governance, and unwavering adherence to agreed frameworks. The continued delays and partial implementation of the R-ARCSS risk eroding public confidence and undermining the prospects for lasting peace. In this regard, we respectfully underscore the following:

• Reaffirming Shared Responsibility: Recognizing that sustainable peace in South Sudan is intrinsically linked to regional and international stability, and therefore requires sustained, coordinated engagement.

• Emphasizing Institutional Development: The urgent need to prioritize the establishment of unified national security forces, an independent judiciary, and credible electoral institutions.

• Encouraging Inclusive Political Dialogue: We call upon all stakeholders to engage in genuine, inclusive dialogue, in the spirit of compromise and national interest.

• Supporting Accountability Mechanisms: Including the establishment of transitional justice institutions, notably the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, in cooperation with the African Union.

• Ensuring Conditions for Credible Elections: Elections must be preceded by security, legal clarity, and political inclusivity to ensure legitimacy and prevent further instability.

Excellencies,

We further commend the continued engagement of regional actors, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and individual African nations such as Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia, whose contributions reflect a commendable spirit of African solidarity and responsibility.

We also commend Nigeria for making its position very clear on the need for the inclusive political dialogue in South Sudan. We urge other African countries to join in  to ensure that South Sudan achieve meaningful and positive peace that reflects the will of all citizens.

At the same time, we note with appreciation the firm yet constructive stance taken by the United Nations Security Council in addressing impediments to UNMISS operations, including restrictions on movement and logistical constraints and the clear mandate to proactively protect civilians. Such principled positions reinforce the integrity of international mandates and the rule-based international order. This is inline with the saying that prevention is better than cure.

We remain convinced that a collaborative and principled approach, grounded in mutual respect and guided by international law including the enforcement of responsibility to protect,  offers the best pathway toward a peaceful and stable South Sudan.

In conclusion,

Allow me to reiterate our deepest appreciation for your steadfast partnership and enduring commitment. The people of South Sudan draw hope from your continued engagement and from your clear affirmation that peace, justice, and institutional integrity are non-negotiable foundations for our shared future.

We look forward to strengthening this partnership in the spirit of cooperation, mutual accountability, and a common commitment to the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Please accept, Your Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Hon. Juol Nhomngek Daniel, MP
Member, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO)
Concerned Citizen of the Republic of South Sudan.