The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is establishing a temporary operating base in Tambura, Western Equatoria, to increase patrols and engagement with communities amid an enduring protection crisis. Officials say positioning forces closer to hotspots will help deter attacks and support local peace processes in an area battered by cycles of violence and displacement since 2021.

Security Dynamics In Western Equatoria

Tambura’s violence has roots in politicized tensions between Azande and Balanda communities and the proliferation of local armed groups. The fighting since mid-2021 displaced thousands and drove civilians into camps; UN teams report recurrent flare-ups and ongoing patrols to secure access routes and settlements.
UNMISS says the forward base will allow faster movement to vulnerable areas, more frequent confidence-building patrols, and direct support to mediation efforts often strained by tit-for-tat attacks.

National Volatility: Politics, Oil And Armed Actors

At the national level, the security picture is fragile. Authorities postponed long-promised elections to December 2026, drawing criticism from peace guarantors and legal challenges at home—developments that have heightened political uncertainty.

South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy—vital for paying security forces—was hit by months-long export disruptions after a pipeline break, with force majeure only lifted in January 2025. Analysts warned the shock risked renewed instability; the World Bank later projected a steep contraction this fiscal year.

Fighting has periodically surged, including deadly incidents around Nasir and attacks that impeded evacuations, underscoring how quickly localized clashes can escalate and intersect with national rivalries.

What The New Base Changes

UNMISS has intensified vehicle patrols around displacement sites and trained local actors in civilian protection; the Tambura base is intended to consolidate these measures by providing a forward hub for rapid response and community engagement.
Mission officials frame the base as part of a broader effort to prevent further displacement and keep dialogue channels open while political and economic pressures test the country’s fragile peace.