In South Sudan, the /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) are largely focused on border and internal security; for example, as of 2024 it was engaged in counterinsurgency operations against the National Salvation Front (NAS), a militant group which has continued fighting the South Sudanese Government since a peace deal led to a cease-fire and the formation of a unity government in 2018; the NAS is mostly active in the greater Equatoria region 

the SSPDF, formerly the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), was founded as a guerrilla movement against the Sudanese Government in 1983 and participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005); the Juba Declaration that followed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 unified the SPLA and the /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), the second-largest rebel militia remaining from the civil war, under the SPLA name; in 2017, the SPLA was renamed the /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) and in September 2018 was renamed again as the SSPDF

the UN Mission in /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan (UNMISS) has operated in the country since 2011 with the objectives of consolidating peace and security and helping establish conditions for the successful economic and political development of /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan; UNMISS had about 15,000 personnel deployed in the country as of 2024

the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and /country/Sudan">Sudan">South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2024, UNISFA had approximately 3,200 personnel assigned (2024)