Latest

UNSC votes to renew sanctions on South Sudan for 1 year, adopting resolution 2821; Pakistan abstains

Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon

Islamabad: With Pakistan abstaining, the UN Security Council extended for one year the sanctions imposed on South Sudan, including asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo – amid concerns expressed by some speakers that the African position on the issue is being overlooked and that sanctions are hindering progress towards lasting peace.

Nine of the 15 Council members voted in favour, none against, with six abstentions (Pakistan, China, Russia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and Somalia).

Along with renewing those measures until 31 May 2027, the Council also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee until 1 July 2027.

The United States drafted the text and led negotiations on it, with no substantive changes from the previous resolution 2781 (2025).

Earlier this year, the Council was warned that South Sudan risks relapsing into full-scale civil war.

Explaining his vote, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said that Islamabad had consistently abstained because sanctions “should be used judiciously, reviewed periodically and should not become open-ended or punitive in nature”.

“Their purpose should be to support political solutions and stabilization efforts, the Pakistani envoy said, adding, “We also note the African Union’s position against continued sanctions on South Sudan.”

The deteriorating political and security situation raises important questions regarding the effectiveness of the current sanctions regime, Ambassador Jadoon said.

Also Read: UN Adds Israel to List of Parties Accused of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

South Sudan, the world’s newest country, gained independence in 2011, prompting the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission to support stability. However, fighting between rival factions erupted in its capital Juba and quickly spread nationwide in 2013, triggering a major political and security crisis. A 2015 peace agreement collapsed soon after it was signed, but a Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan signed in 2018 led to the formation of a Transitional Government. Yet, violence and political tensions persist.

According to the Secretary-General’s latest report on the key benchmarks the period from 2025 to 2026 has been the most difficult since the agreement was signed, marked by stagnation and troubling reversals.

In Friday’s decision, the Council requested the Secretary-General, in close consultation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Panel of Experts, “to conduct, no later than 15 April 2027, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in paragraph 2 of resolution 2577 (2021); including recommendations on appropriate updates to the benchmarks”. It also requested South Sudanese authorities to report, by the same date, to the Sanctions Committee on the progress achieved on the key benchmarks.

In his remarks, Ambassador Jadoon, went on to say, “Lasting peace in South Sudan will be advanced through sustained political engagement, implementation of the Revitalized Agreement,” and that “We will continue to engage constructively with all partners in support of durable peace and stability in South Sudan.”

United States’ Ambassador Jennifer Locette, while welcoming the mandate renewal, voiced disappointment over the lack of progress on benchmarks and deterioration of the political and security situation in South Sudan, due to a lack of political will by President Salva Kiir and other South Sudanese leaders.

She urged them to return to direct dialogue, calling it “farcical” to suggest dialogue is occurring when one of the signatories to the 2018 peace agreement is under house arrest and on trial.

The Council cannot accept obstruction of the peace process, the US envoy said.

She called on the transitional Government to deliver all steps to restore peace by declaring a national ceasefire, releasing detainees, renouncing the use of violence for political purposes and using public revenue appropriately to support South Sudan’s citizens.

Related Topics:un un security council united nations

Up Next

DPM, CEO OYAK discuss ways to expand Pakistan, Turkiye economic partnership

Don't Miss

UN Adds Israel to List of Parties Accused of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Click to comment

Latest

Pakistani Students’ UK Visa Delays Raised by Azam Nazeer Tarar with British High Commissioner

Azam Nazeer Tarar with UK High Commissioner

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year. He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard.

The Federal Minister briefed the British High Commissioner that, on the directives of the Prime Minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the High Commissioner that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, the committee had finalized its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The Federal Minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed.

The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

Latest

Naqvi Sets September 30 Deadline for Completion of Islamabad Safe City Expansion

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, visited the Islamabad Safe City Headquarters on Friday and chaired a special meeting to review progress on the Safe City Expansion Project, directing officials to complete the ambitious initiative by September 30.

During the briefing, officials informed the minister that overall work on the expansion project has reached 85 percent completion. Installation of the new surveillance network is also 85 percent complete, while 415 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid to support the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture, and cybersecurity infrastructure has also reached approximately 80 percent completion.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, Naqvi stressed that the remaining tasks must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said the government’s vision is to transform the Islamabad Safe City into a modern, smart, and world-class institution comparable to those in developed countries.

The interior minister said the technologically advanced Safe City system would significantly strengthen public safety through enhanced surveillance, effective monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

He noted that the project would play a vital role in improving law enforcement efficiency and ensuring better security for residents of the federal capital.

Naqvi also assigned officials the task of completing the state-of-the-art Fusion Centre within the next three months, describing it as a critical component of the upgraded Safe City network.

He further directed the relevant authorities to finalise the Safe City Bill at the earliest and present it before the National Assembly without delay to provide the legal framework necessary for the project’s long-term operation and expansion.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), senior Safe City officials, and other relevant officers, who briefed the minister on the progress and future roadmap of the expansion project.

Latest

PM Shehbaz, high-level delegation perform Umrah; pray for country’s progress

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-level delegation, performed Umrah here on Friday.

He was accompanied by his delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

The door of Khana Kaaba was opened specially for the prime minister and his delegation.

Following the completion of the Umrah rituals, the prime minister, field marshal, and other members of the Pakistani delegation offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country, the safety and unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for regional and global peace.

The prime minister arrived in Jeddah on Thursday evening for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Besides meeting with his Saudi counterpart, he will also pay a visit to the Roze-e-Rasool (PBUH) in Madinah.