The UN Security Council on Friday renewed for one year the arms embargo against South Sudan, along with targeted sanctions including a travel ban and asset freeze on specific individuals and entities.

The UNSC “Decides to renew until 31 May 2026 the measures on arms imposed by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018), and reaffirms the provisions of paragraph 5 of resolution 2428 (2018) as well as paragraph 2 of resolution 2683 (2023), which removed the notification requirement for the supply, sale or transfer of non-lethal military equipment, solely in support of the implementation of the terms of the peace agreement, and related technical assistance or training on non-lethal military equipment;

The resolution was adopted with nine votes in favor and six abstentions. It also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which supports the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, until July 1, 2026.

Abstaining were the African Security Council members Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, as well as China, Pakistan, and Russia.

The resolution reiterates the Council’s readiness to review the arms embargo measures—potentially modifying, suspending, or progressively lifting them—based on progress toward key benchmarks outlined in Resolution 2577 (2021). It encourages South Sudanese authorities to continue making progress.

It further decides to keep targeted sanctions under continuous review and expresses readiness to adjust these measures as necessary, whether by modifying, suspending, lifting, or strengthening them in response to evolving circumstances.

The resolution requests the UN Secretary-General, in close consultation with the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Panel of Experts, to conduct an assessment of progress on the key benchmarks by April 15, 2026.

“(The UN) Requests in this regard 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 2026, an assessment of progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in paragraph 2 of resolution 2577 (2021);

” (the UN) … encourages the South Sudan authorities to achieve further progress in this regard,” said the statement.

South Sudanese authorities are reportedly requested to report to the Sanctions Committee by the same date on their progress.

UNSC first imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan in 2018. Despite preconditions, South Sudan continued the path of violence. Ever since, the UN has renewed the bans due to continuous insecurity in the country.

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Eye Media – the organization managing Eye Radio – and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan have signed a partnership agreement worth over 187,000 US dollars to boost independent journalism and promote freedom of speech in South Sudan.

The agreement was signed on Friday, 30 May 2025, by Eye Media’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Omiri, and Ambassador Paul Tholen, Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan.

The bridge funding comes at a time when Eye Radio has been operating with volunteers for the past five months, after losing its funding in January 2025 due to the US government’s global pause on foreign assistance.

Eye Media Chief Executive Officer Stephen Omiri expressed his deepest gratitude for the needed financial assistance.

“This financial assistance will enable us to significantly enhance our capacity to deliver truthful and diverse information, which is more crucial now than ever, states Omiri, adding “It will directly support our efforts to strengthen independent journalism and expand our digital content and ensure that the voices of marginalized communities are highlighted and amplified on Eye Radio,” Omiri stressed.

The CEO further stated that the financial support from the Netherlands will significantly contribute to building a resilient, inclusive, and transparent media landscape—one that champions freedom of expression, upholds human rights, and fosters lasting democratic progress in a young country like South Sudan.

Ambassador Paul Tholen stressed the importance of media freedom in South Sudan as the reason why the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands provides support to Eye Media:

“Free media contributes to the free and open public debate, the backbone of democratic and inclusive societies. The work of free media is essential for countering disinformation and ensuring citizens have access to credible information,” he said.

“The current situation in South Sudan calls for support to independent and objective journalism: now, more than ever.”