South Sudan has reaffirmed its call for the shutdown of key United Nations peacekeeping bases in Wau and Bentiu, insisting that the move is tied to national sovereignty as the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) implements a mandated drawdown.

With thousands of peacekeepers already being repatriated, the government says it has approved the closure of seven smaller UNMISS bases but continues to press for the exit from the strategically significant sites in Wau and Bentiu.

Foreign Affairs Minister Monday Semaya Kumba said on Saturday that Juba’s position remains unchanged, stressing that the continued presence of the two bases raises sovereignty and security concerns. He made the remarks while briefing diplomats in the capital.

The government also faulted UNMISS for failing to adequately consult authorities before rolling out a major contingency plan guiding the drawdown. While South Sudan supported the plan’s implementation in what Kumba described as “good faith,” he said the lack of prior consultation fell short of host-country obligations. The matter, he added, has been raised directly with UN peacekeeping chief Jean‑Pierre Lacroix.

The Wau and Bentiu bases are among UNMISS’s largest and most critical installations outside Juba and are located in regions that have experienced prolonged conflict.

Kumba rejected suggestions that the government has obstructed the troop withdrawal, saying South Sudan has actively facilitated the process. He noted that between November 28 and December 10, 2025, at least 1,143 peacekeepers from Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh and India were repatriated, with nearly 2,500 more scheduled to depart by early January 2026.

Commenting on a recent cancelled rotation flight involving Nepalese troops, Kumba blamed procedural lapses by the UN rather than government interference. He said the aircraft carried unauthorised personnel, although authorities still cleared the departure of the outgoing contingent. The flight eventually left without passengers after UNMISS declined to proceed under those conditions.

To manage the drawdown, a joint ad hoc technical committee has been formed, which the government described as a positive development despite unresolved disagreements over the Wau and Bentiu bases.

Kumba confirmed that Juba has approved the closure of seven other UNMISS bases located in Torit, Aweil, Yei, Akobo, Koch, Bunj and Pariang.

Responding to the developments, UNMISS spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury said the mission is grappling with a UN‑wide financial crisis that requires a 15 percent budget reduction over the next six months. She said the cuts have necessitated the closure or downsizing of some field offices, reductions in staff, and scaled‑back operations.

Despite the impact, Chowdhury said UNMISS remains committed to its mandate of supporting peace and security across South Sudan.

UNMISS was established in July 2011 following South Sudan’s independence, under UN Security Council Resolution 1996, with a mandate to help stabilise the country and support the development of state institutions.