Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the domestic situation in South Sudan.

Despite significant progress, including the formation of the transitional government in February 2020, the situation in South Sudan is of deep concern. Implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement has stalled, contributing to increases in violence in a number of areas. The South Sudanese economy remains in crisis and many South Sudanese are facing the effects of flooding. Over 50% of the population are experiencing severe acute food insecurity and there is threat of famine in several areas. South Sudan also remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers with at least nine killed in 2020.

South Sudan's best chance of a more stable and prosperous future remains in the full implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement. The UK continues to push for progress, alongside our international partners, including the Troika. We remain the second largest bilateral donor and in 2019 UK aid reached over 200,000 with food assistance and one million people with vaccinations for preventable illnesses. During a visit to South Sudan in October, the Minister for Africa pressed President Kiir and other key figures on the need for real political progress and announced a further £8 million of UK aid to help mitigate the risk of famine and assist the victims of flooding.