South Sudan Accuses UN-Contracted Aircraft of Smuggling and Espionage

South Sudan’s government has accused aircraft operating under contracts with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of involvement in the smuggling of natural resources and the installation of undeclared surveillance equipment.

Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba said during a diplomatic briefing in the capital, Juba, on Saturday that authorities had grounded four aircraft linked to UNMISS following intelligence obtained by security agencies.

Semaya stated that intelligence information showed that two UNMISS aircraft had been fitted with intelligence reconnaissance recorders and missile-defense systems without notifying the government. He added that two other aircraft were allegedly involved in the smuggling of natural resources, most notably sandalwood, between South Sudan and Sudan.

The minister identified the aircraft by registration numbers, saying that UNO-570P and UNO-571P were carrying undeclared equipment, while UNO-535P and UNO-536P were allegedly used in cross-border smuggling operations.

He said the findings had been communicated to senior UNMISS officials and that an independent government committee had been tasked with investigating the matter. “The investigation committee has completed its work, and the final report has been submitted to my office and the relevant authorities to take the necessary decisions,” he said.

Semaya stressed that the accusations were directed at the aircraft operators rather than the United Nations mission as an institution. “We are not accusing UNMISS. These aircraft operate under contractual arrangements between the operators and the United Nations,” he said.

He described the case as “a serious national security issue,” and underscored that it was entirely separate from plans to reduce UNMISS forces and close some of its bases, which he attributed to global funding challenges facing peacekeeping operations.