South Sudan Accuses UN-Contracted Aircraft of Smuggling and Espionage
JUBA – South Sudan’s government has made serious allegations against aircraft operating under contract to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), accusing them of smuggling natural resources and being fitted with covert surveillance equipment.
Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba detailed the claims during a diplomatic briefing in Juba on Saturday. He stated that four aircraft linked to UNMISS have been grounded by authorities following intelligence operations.
“Through our intelligence, we found that two UNMISS aircraft were equipped with Intelligence Surveillance Recorders and missile protection systems without disclosure to the government,” Minister Semaya asserted.
He further alleged, “We also found that two other aircraft were engaged in smuggling natural resources, namely sandalwood, between South Sudan and Sudan.”
The government identified the aircraft in question as:
· UNO-570P and UNO-571P: Allegedly equipped with undisclosed surveillance and protection systems.
· UNO-535P and UNO-536P: Allegedly used for cross-border smuggling.
Semaya emphasized that the allegations target the specific aircraft operators, not the UN mission as an institution. “We are not pointing fingers at UNMISS. These aircraft operate under contractual arrangements between operators and the United Nations,” he said.
He informed diplomats that an independent government committee has completed an investigation, and its final report has been submitted to his office and relevant authorities for action. The findings were reportedly shared with senior UNMISS officials earlier.
The Foreign Minister framed the incident as a “serious national security issue,” separate from the ongoing, unrelated drawdown of UNMISS forces due to global funding shortages.
Diplomatic Reaction and Government Assurance
The allegations prompted questions from diplomats present. South Africa’s ambassador queried the public disclosure of sensitive intelligence and raised concerns about security implications of the UN reduction ahead of planned December 2026 elections.
In response, Semaya defended the public briefing as necessary to address inquiries and counter external narratives. He stated the government is preparing its security forces and working with regional partners to ensure election stability.
He firmly rejected any notion that South Sudan is obstructing UNMISS, noting cooperation on troop rotations and base closures continues. The government stated it would share the investigation’s findings with UNMISS after final decisions are made and urged international partners to respect its sovereignty.
Aside from the grounded aircraft, the government confirmed all other UN-contracted aviation firms continue to operate without restriction.
The Brief post could not immediately obtain a comment from UNMISS regarding the allegations.
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