Tragic violence erupted during a UN evacuation attempt in South Sudan, leading to multiple fatalities, including a crew member and an injured general. President Kiir stated another helicopter crashed, though this has not been confirmed by the UN. The ongoing conflict threatens a fragile peace deal, with political tensions escalating in the region.
A recent attempt by the United Nations to evacuate South Sudanese military personnel resulted in tragic violence, with several fatalities reported. A UN helicopter was targeted during the evacuation attempt, leading to the death of one crew member and an injured general, along with other soldiers in the Upper Nile state, according to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Following this incident, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir reported that a second UN helicopter took off only to crash land thereafter, resulting in further casualties; however, the UN has yet to verify this claim. The UN described the attack on the first helicopter as potentially constituting a war crime, signaling the gravity of the situation amid escalating violence in the region.
The current conflict in Upper Nile threatens the peace agreement established between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar after a previous civil war between their factions. Originally sparked by political tensions in 2013, this civil strife led to extensive casualties and displacement. Though a peace deal was signed in 2018, instability persists, fueled by ongoing clashes between the national army and the White Army militia, which is ethnically aligned with Machar.
Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, condemned the attack as “utterly abhorrent,” expressing condolences for the loss of personnel and the lives of those they attempted to evacuate. President Kiir addressed the nation following the violent episode, urging citizens to remain calm and asserting that the government is committed to managing the crisis without recourse to renewed warfare. He reiterated that the nation’s stability must be maintained to prevent a relapse into conflict.
South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in 2011, is currently grappling with the consequences of both ongoing violence and political arrests, including detentions of influential allies of Machar, which has escalated fears of a return to war.
The international community continues to monitor developments in South Sudan closely, as the region remains in a precarious state.
In summary, the UN’s evacuation attempt in South Sudan resulted in a deadly attack, highlighting the fragile state of peace in the nation. With ongoing violence between military factions and ethnic militias, the country faces severe challenges in maintaining stability. President Kiir’s call for calm underscores the need for cooperative governance to avert a return to war. The United Nations has condemned the violence, reinforcing the legal implications surrounding such attacks in conflict zones.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
