Clashes in South Sudan led to the death of UN personnel and South Sudanese soldiers, with the UN condemning the shooting down of helicopters as a potential war crime. President Kiir reported additional fatalities from a second helicopter crash. This violence threatens the peace agreement between Kiir and Machar, over a decade after the civil war began, raising fears of a return to conflict.
Recent clashes in South Sudan have resulted in significant casualties, including the death of a crew member following the shooting down of a UN helicopter amid attempts to evacuate national army members. The UN reported that one injured South Sudanese general and numerous troops also lost their lives during this operation in the Upper Nile state. The UN categorizes the attack on its helicopter as potentially a war crime.
South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, reported a second helicopter, which had taken off after the initial attack, had crash-landed, resulting in more fatalities. However, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) affirmed that both helicopters safely landed in Malakal. The government’s Information Minister stated a total of twenty-seven South Sudanese have died in connection with this incident.
Ongoing violence in the Upper Nile region threatens the fragile peace established between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The civil war, which began in 2013 following a power struggle, has claimed the lives of approximately 400,000 individuals and displaced 2.5 million. Even though a peace agreement was signed in 2018, tensions remain high.
The current conflict involves the official armed forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia allied with Machar. UNMISS is working to evacuate wounded soldiers from conflict zones under agreements with both parties involved. Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, condemned the attack on mission personnel, labeling it “extremely abhorrent” and expressing heartfelt condolences for the losses.
The deceased general, identified as Gen Majur Dak, was commanding troops stationed in the Nasir area of Upper Nile. Additionally, recent arrests of prominent allies of Machar, including the oil minister, have raised fears of a resurgence of war in the region. In the aftermath of Friday’s attack, President Kiir appealed for calm, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maintaining peace in the nation, which became independent from Sudan in 2011.
The violent confrontations in South Sudan underscore the precarious nature of peace in a nation still recovering from civil conflict. The deaths resulting from the shootdown of UN helicopters, potential war crimes, and ongoing military engagement with ethnic militias pose severe challenges to regional stability. With leadership urging calm amidst rising tensions, the situation remains critically fragile as South Sudan strives to navigate a path toward enduring peace.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
