A UN evacuation attempt in South Sudan was disrupted by a deadly shooting, resulting in several fatalities, including a crew member and an army general. President Kiir stated that a second helicopter crashed after the attack. The incident raises concerns about the deteriorating security situation amid ongoing conflicts over a fragile peace deal.
In South Sudan, a recent evacuation attempt by the United Nations (UN) was disrupted by a deadly shooting, resulting in multiple fatalities. According to a statement from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), one crew member lost their life when a UN helicopter was fired upon, while a South Sudanese general and several troops were also killed during the incident in the Upper Nile state.
President Salva Kiir remarked that a second UN helicopter took off after the initial attack but subsequently crash-landed, leading to the deaths of all passengers aboard. While the UN has not yet confirmed the President’s account, they indicated that the assault on the first helicopter might qualify as a war crime.
The recent violence in Upper Nile, stemming from weeks of fighting, poses a threat to the tenuous peace agreement established between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The conflict dates back to 2013, when a rift between them ignited a civil war that claimed 400,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million individuals. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2018, tensions continue to escalate.
Current hostilities are primarily between the South Sudanese armed forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia formerly allied with Machar. UNMISS has been conducting evacuations of wounded troops from the conflict zone as part of an accord with both the White Army and South Sudan’s military.
Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, described the attack on their personnel as “utterly abhorrent” and potentially a war crime under international law, expressing deep regret over the loss of their colleague and the individuals they were attempting to rescue. He underscored that safe passage assurances had been received prior to the attack.
President Kiir confirmed that the army general who perished in the attack was Gen Majur Dak, who headed forces stationed in Nasir, Upper Nile. Amidst the ongoing fighting, a series of arrests, including those of some of Machar’s allies, has raised concerns regarding a potential resurgence of conflict in South Sudan. Following the incident, President Kiir called on the nation to maintain calm, asserting that the government would manage the crisis, stating, “I have said time and again, that our country would not go back to war.”
South Sudan, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains fraught with instability, which is compounded by the recent violence and political tensions.
The recent shooting that disrupted a UN evacuation attempt in South Sudan highlights the fragility of the nation’s peace process. The attack, which resulted in several fatalities, including that of a UN crew member and an army general, reflects the ongoing violence that continues to threaten stability. President Kiir’s assurances aim to prevent a return to war, emphasizing the need for calm and the government’s commitment to addressing the crisis.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
