UN Security Council members vote during a session. (File photo/Courtesy).

The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on Friday on whether to renew sanctions measures on South Sudan, including targeted sanctions and an arms embargo.

The vote is expected to extend targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, and the arms embargo until 31 May 2027.

It will also extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee until 1 July 2027.

According to the Security Council Report, the draft resolution is a straightforward renewal of measures contained in resolution 2781 of 30 May 2025 without substantive changes.

The draft resolution follows growing concerns over continued violence and lack of progress in implementing the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

A report by the Panel of Experts said armed confrontations between parties to the peace agreement and affiliated militias have continued in several parts of the country, especially in areas controlled by opposition forces.

The report also said military operations by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces were supported by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces and involved the use of helicopters and surveillance aircraft in attacks on opposition-held areas.

According to the Panel, some military offensives used armoured personnel carriers procured in violation of the arms embargo, while additional small arms were also reportedly acquired in early 2025.

On 16 April, the UN Secretary-General submitted an assessment report to the Security Council on South Sudan’s progress in implementing benchmarks for lifting or adjusting the arms embargo.

The report said South Sudan faced its most difficult period since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement, citing lack of progress and setbacks in key security and political reforms.

The Secretary-General said the Security Council “may wish to consider revisiting the existing benchmarks, with a view to ensuring that they remain aligned with the current context and effectively support efforts to advance the implementation of the revitalised agreement and restore stability”.

The sanctions regime on South Sudan remains divisive within the Security Council.

China and Russia have repeatedly argued that sanctions hinder South Sudan’s efforts to strengthen its security institutions and support peace implementation.

African members of the Council have also raised concerns that continued sanctions could undermine political and security progress.

However, countries including France, the United Kingdom and the United States continue to support the sanctions, saying they are necessary to maintain pressure on parties to advance the peace process and prevent further instability.

The United States, which drafted the resolution, proposed only minor changes related to future reviews of the benchmarks outlined in the Secretary-General’s report.

The draft resolution was placed in blue on 22 May and is expected to be voted on today.

The UN sanctions were first imposed in 2015 following the outbreak of civil war in 2013, while the arms embargo was imposed in 2018 to prevent the sale or transfer of arms to South Sudan.

The embargo also prohibits military training, technical support and financial assistance related to military activities or materials to South Sudan.

The sanctions and arms embargo have since been renewed several times by the Security Council.

The government has not yet commented on the expected vote.