High-Level Meeting at UN Headquarters
Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu arrived at the iconic UN complex on Saturday, leading South Sudan’s delegation to the 2025 General Assembly. Her closed-door conversation with Secretary-General António Guterres stretched beyond the scheduled slot, signalling the weight both sides placed on the agenda.
Key Themes of South Sudan’s Message
Speaking afterward, Lagu told reporters that Juba is prioritising the permanent cantonment of armed groups, accelerated humanitarian corridors and credible elections. “Our people deserve a dividend of peace, and we are determined to deliver,” she said, referencing the Revitalised Agreement.
The Foreign Affairs ministry later described the exchange as “frank and fruitful,” noting that the vice president handed over an updated roadmap for disarmament and community reconciliation.
UN Emphasis on Continental Security
Guterres welcomed what he termed South Sudan’s “constructive presence” at regional forums and underscored the need for secure borders across the Horn of Africa. He pointed to recent improvements in cross-border trade as evidence that stability efforts are beginning to resonate.
Next Steps in Juba–UN Engagement
Both offices confirmed that technical teams will meet again before March to refine benchmarks and reporting mechanisms. Diplomats suggest that aligning UNMISS priorities with the government’s new security matrix could unlock additional funding from partners in Addis Ababa and Riyadh.
For young South Sudanese, the diplomacy in New York offers a glimpse of hope that the cycle of conflict can be broken, yet expectations remain cautiously measured as implementation moves from speeches to field realities.