UNMISS withdrawal hits Torit community
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan will shut its field office in Torit after December, citing a severe shortfall in global peacekeeping funds. The move comes as the young nation edges toward its inaugural national polls.
Acting Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho relayed the decision to Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong Lojore during a high-level consultative visit on Tuesday.
Global Budget Squeeze
Ms. Gbeho said peacekeeping budgets have been slashed roughly by half worldwide, making it impossible for UNMISS to maintain all twelve field locations. Torit, once a logistical hub for patrols and aid convoys, is among the casualties of the retrenchment.
Over the last decade, the blue-helmet presence protected civilians, mediated local disputes, and guaranteed humanitarian corridors across a landscape scarred by conflict.
Government Voices Mixed Feelings
Governor Lobong thanked UNMISS for years of partnership yet noted the timing is “worrying given the approaching elections.” Still, he portrayed the withdrawal as evidence that security has improved enough to allow local authorities to assume greater responsibility.
He appealed for calm, urging residents to “see this phase-down as temporary, not a final departure,” and promised regular briefings on the transition.
Continued Support from Juba
UNMISS leadership underscored that patrols, early-warning systems, and election assistance will now be coordinated from the Juba headquarters. Mobile teams will conduct targeted deployments to Eastern Equatoria as resources permit.
“Closing a compound does not mean closing our commitment,” Ms. Gbeho told reporters, highlighting planned dialogues with state officials on priority programs.
Election Stakes and Regional Echoes
Analysts caution that any reduction in neutral security actors could influence voter confidence. Yet many also see the step as a test of South Sudanese institutions’ capacity to safeguard the ballot independently.
Across Central Africa, governments—including Brazzaville—watch such transitions closely, weighing how fluctuating donor funds might reshape future peace operations on the continent.
Looking Ahead
For now, trucks are being packed, files digitised, and local staff reassigned. The final hand-over schedule is expected within weeks, after which Torit will rely on intermittent UNMISS patrols.
Whether the closure proves a milestone of stability or a premature scaling-back will become clear only after the historic election curtain rises next year.