South Sudan accuses UN-contracted planes of smuggling, spy gear

The government of South Sudan has alleged that aircraft operating under contract to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been involved in smuggling natural resources and were fitted with undisclosed surveillance equipment.

Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba made the claims during a briefing for diplomats in the capital, Juba, on Saturday. He stated that four aircraft linked to UNMISS had been grounded by authorities following intelligence findings.

“Through our intelligence, we found that two UNMISS aircraft were equipped with Intelligence Surveillance Recorders and missile protection systems without disclosure to the government,” Semaya said.

“We also found that two other aircraft were engaged in smuggling natural resources, namely sandalwood, between South Sudan and Sudan,” he added.

The minister identified the aircraft as UNO-570P and UNO-571P, allegedly carrying undisclosed equipment, and UNO-535P and UNO-536P, allegedly used in cross-border smuggling.

 The South Sudanese diplomat said the findings were reported to senior UNMISS officials and that an independent government committee had investigated the matter.

“The investigation committee has concluded its work, and the final report has been submitted to my office and the relevant authorities for further guidance and necessary decisions,” he told diplomats.

He stressed that the allegations were directed at the specific aircraft operators, not the UN mission as an institution.

“We are not pointing fingers at UNMISS,” Semaya said. “These aircraft operate under contractual arrangements between operators and the United Nations.”

The foreign minister stated that this case was being treated as a “serious national security issue” entirely separate from the ongoing UNMISS troop reduction and base closure plan, which he attributed to global peacekeeping funding challenges.

The government said that, aside from the one aviation company whose four aircraft were grounded, all other UN-contracted civilian firms continue to operate without restriction. It also noted that UNMISS had terminated its contract with a Rwandan military aviation company, a decision Juba did not oppose.

Diplomatic Questions Raised

The allegations prompted questions from the diplomatic community. South Africa’s ambassador to South Sudan questioned the public handling of sensitive intelligence and asked about security implications of the UN drawdown ahead of planned elections in December 2026.

In response, Semaya said the government is currently preparing its security forces and engaging regional partners to ensure stability during the election period. He defended the public briefing, saying it was to address frequent diplomatic inquiries directly and counter “external narratives.”

He also firmly rejected any suggestion that South Sudan was obstructing UNMISS operations, stating co-operation on troop rotations and base closures was proceeding as agreed.

The government stated it would share the investigation findings with UNMISS after final decisions are made and urged international partners to respect South Sudan’s sovereignty.

Radio Tamazuj could not immediately reach UNMISS for comment.

Source: Open Newswire @ South Sudan accuses UN-contracted planes of smuggling, spy gear – Radio Tamazuj