The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency staff to leave South Sudan as tensions rise due to fighting in the north, including clashes involving the national army. Recent arrests of political figures associated with Vice President Riek Machar pose a threat to the peace agreement signed in 2018 following a civil war. The UN has condemned the security situation, urging commitment to the peace process.
On Sunday, the U.S. State Department mandated the departure of nonemergency government personnel from South Sudan’s capital due to escalating tensions from armed conflicts in the northern part of the country. The travel advisory highlighted ongoing fighting, noting that weapons are widely accessible to civilians in the region.
A recent clash between an armed group and the national army resulted in the arrest of two government ministers and a deputy army chief associated with the former rebel leader and current Vice President Riek Machar. Supporters of Machar argued that these arrests threaten the fragile peace agreement established between rival factions.
South Sudan experienced a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018, culminating in over 400,000 fatalities. The peace agreement signed in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar remains under implementation. Furthermore, recent violence involving an attack on a U.N. helicopter during an evacuation mission has raised serious security concerns, with a U.N. rights body labeling the incident as a potential war crime.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, on Saturday, cautioned that the violence in the northern regions, coupled with the unrest in the capital, Juba, poses significant risks to the continued viability of the peace agreement. Yasmin Sooka, the chairperson, expressed concern about a potential regression in peace efforts, urging leaders to prioritize the ongoing peace process and respect the human rights of citizens.
In summary, the U.S. has ordered nonemergency personnel to evacuate South Sudan amid rising tensions from renewed fighting. The conflict’s implications threaten the fragile peace agreement established after the civil war. The international community, notably the UN, has reacted strongly to recent incidents, emphasizing the urgent need for adherence to peace initiatives and the importance of human rights in the region.
Original Source: apnews.com
