South Sudan denies obstructing UN peacekeeping, says US warning unfair

JUBA – The government of South Sudan has rejected claims that it obstructed the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) during a planned rotation of peacekeeping troops, as the United States issued a sharp warning over alleged interference.

Speaking in a press conference on Saturday, South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba said the 17 points submitted to UNMISS were not conditions but represented legitimate concerns and positions.

Kumba stated the points “represent our concerns and positions, not conditions. They were meant to facilitate discussion, not to block operations.”

He said that the government had engaged in extensive consultations with UNMISS officials, including Under-Secretary-General Jane Perry-Lafoye, and coordinated closely on the implementation of the contingency plan for troop rotations.

“I interpreted clearly the meaning of the 17 points, and we have agreed after my interpretation of the 17 points to move forward in an orderly manner to implement the contingency plan,” Kumba noted, stressing the goal was to proceed in an organized fashion.

According to the foreign ministry, 1,143 troops from Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, and India have already departed Juba under the approved schedule. Another 2,497 troops are expected to rotate between Dec. 15, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026.

“According to our records until today we have 1143 troops departed from Juba back to their countries in the line of the contingency plan arrangements in a very orderly manner without any obstacles,” he stated.

Kumba addressed specific reports of a problem with a recent Nepalese rotation flight, attributing it to a misunderstanding regarding troop numbers at the airport.

“A misunderstanding occurred at Juba International Airport, where 205 troops were present instead of the approved 150,” he said.

“However, UNMIS decided not to allow the 150 troops to depart on the scheduled flight, and after that the flight returned empty,” Kumba added, emphasizing that the mission’s decision led to the aircraft departing without any peacekeepers.

He stressed that it is unfair to suggest that South Sudan blocked the process or caused the flight disruption.

“Now here’s the question again, where did we went wrong? We say let the 50 that was scheduled to go, the other 55 we don’t know about them, according to the report given to us,” Kumba said, describing the government’s proposed solution.

He continued, laying out the sequence of events from their perspective: “Let us reschedule them but then it was decided by the team of UNMIS at the airport that the 150 should not go and as a result the flight left empty and this thing is tabled against us that we are the cause of this,”

The statements from South Sudan come as the United States issued a sharp warning to the transitional government over alleged fees on humanitarian shipments and interference with UN peacekeeping operations.

Washington said the actions violated international obligations and could trigger cuts in U.S. foreign assistance.

“If these actions do not stop immediately, the United States will begin a comprehensive review of our foreign assistance — with likely significant reductions,” it said, delivering a strong ultimatum.

The U.S. accused top South Sudanese leaders of “fueling insecurity and turning humanitarian aid into a rent-seeking opportunity” and criticized what it described as a “predatory” approach to governance.

Since 2011, the U.S. has provided more than $9.5 billion in aid. In contrast, the U.S. noted that South Sudan earned $25 billion in oil revenue that was “not used to support citizens, pay salaries, or improve essential services.”

“The transitional government should start being a partner to those trying to help its people rather than obstructing their work,” the US said.

South Sudan has maintained that it is committed to working with UNMISS and said all troop movements are proceeding according to approved schedules, with any misunderstandings being addressed through joint technical committees designed to resolve such operational issues.