Clashes in South Sudan have displaced 50,000 people since February, threatening a fragile peace agreement. Western nations are prepared to mediate between the rival leaders. The ongoing violence has caused significant humanitarian crises, sparking urgent calls for dialogue and assistance.
Recent clashes in South Sudan have led to the displacement of at least 50,000 individuals since February, raising concerns over the potential resurgence of civil war. The fighting primarily involves forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, which jeopardizes their delicate peace-sharing agreement in the northeastern Upper Nile State.
The violence is exacerbating the already precarious situation for vulnerable communities, prompting the suspension of essential services. Anita Kiki Gbeho of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasizes the urgent need to address these humanitarian challenges.
Western embassies, including those of the United States and the European Union, have expressed their willingness to facilitate dialogue between the opposing leaders, Kiir and Machar, to help resolve the escalating crisis. The conflict escalated further on Monday when a government airstrike in Nasir County resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, including children.
OCHA reports that approximately 10,000 displaced individuals have sought refuge in Ethiopia, and significant disruptions to humanitarian efforts have occurred, including the closure of a cholera treatment unit in Nasir. Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), warned that the nation risks slipping back into civil war, drawing parallels to the ongoing crises in neighboring Sudan.
The current fighting undermines a peace deal established in 2018, which ended a protracted civil war that claimed about 400,000 lives. Kiir’s allies accuse Machar’s forces of collaborating with the White Army, an armed youth group from his Nuer ethnic community, further escalating tensions. An attempted UN rescue operation resulted in casualties, including a UN crew member and a senior South Sudanese general, highlighting the precarious security situation.
The ongoing clashes in South Sudan have resulted in significant humanitarian crises, displacing tens of thousands and intensifying fears of a return to civil war. The response from Western governments seeking to mediate is critical, yet the resolution of this conflict necessitates immediate dialogue between the rival factions to ensure the maintenance of peace and avert further violence.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
