South Sudan remains in a fragile equilibrium between war and peace. While the peace agreement has prevented a renewed nationwide escalation, localized violence by armed groups continues, accompanied by widespread atrocities against civilians. The implementation of the peace agreement has seen limited progress, for example a working parliament and marginal improvements in administrative capacity. National elections were again postponed and are now scheduled for December 2026.
Economic conditions deteriorated further due to external shocks and conflict-related disruptions. The civil war in Sudan interrupted South Sudan’s vital oil pipeline, causing a sharp decline in oil revenues and severely constraining fiscal policy. Combined with ongoing violence and recurrent flooding, this has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis with large-scale internal displacement and refugee flows.
Governance remains weak amid extreme structural constraints. The concentration of political, economic, and military power continues to impede accountability and effective anti-corruption efforts. Steering capacity is limited, as the government implements elements of the peace agreement selectively, while key reforms remain stalled. Relations with international partners also remain strained, and regional conflicts increasingly affect domestic stability and policy implementation.
