JUBA — The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway—have issued a joint statement calling on South Sudan’s transitional government to urgently release political detainees as part of broader steps to halt renewed violence and rescue the country’s fragile peace process.
The Troika expressed deep concern that more than seven years after the signing of the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the country is once again sliding toward widespread conflict.
The agreement, intended to end years of civil war and establish a transitional government of national unity, has not been meaningfully implemented, the Troika said.
The three governments criticized South Sudan’s leadership for violating power-sharing principles, misusing public resources, and failing to deliver basic services to its citizens.
They noted that public servants continue to go unpaid while international donors shoulder much of the burden for health, education, and humanitarian assistance.
A central demand in the statement is the immediate release of political prisoners, which the Troika described as essential to restoring trust, reducing tensions, and creating conditions for dialogue.
The statement also calls on the transitional government to end aerial attacks against civilians, cease armed confrontations, and return to a nationwide ceasefire.
The Troika warned that escalating violence risks plunging South Sudan back to the devastating levels seen in 2013 and 2016, with serious consequences not only for South Sudanese civilians but also for regional stability, particularly as neighboring countries grapple with ongoing conflict in Sudan.
In addition, the statement condemned interference with humanitarian operations and the obstruction of United Nations peacekeepers, including restrictions on their movement. Such actions, the Troika said, must end immediately to allow humanitarian and peacekeeping missions to operate safely and effectively.
Calling for a unified international and regional response, the Troika urged South Sudan’s neighbors and partners to deliver a clear and consistent message to the country’s leaders: the current trajectory is unacceptable.
According to the statement, decisive actions—starting with the release of political detainees and a genuine commitment to peace—are necessary if South Sudan is to regain the confidence, support, and respect of its people and the international community.
