A recent UN evacuation attempt in South Sudan resulted in deadly gunfire, claiming the lives of a crew member and several soldiers. President Kiir reported a second helicopter crash, with casualties among passengers. The incident highlights escalating violence in Upper Nile state amid fears of a return to warfare following years of civil conflict. UN leaders condemned the attacks, suggesting they may constitute war crimes.
In South Sudan, a UN evacuation operation faced deadly resistance, resulting in casualties. An attempted evacuation of national army personnel was disrupted when a UN helicopter was attacked, which led to the death of one crew member and an injured general, alongside several troops killed. A statement from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) indicated that the attack raised serious concerns, potentially qualifying as a war crime.
President Salva Kiir confirmed that a second UN helicopter, following the attack, attempted to take off but tragically crashed, taking the lives of all its passengers. Though the UN has not substantiated Kiir’s remarks, they expressed alarm over the incident. The recent violence has exacerbated tensions in Upper Nile state, threatening the fragile peace agreement established in 2018 between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar after years of civil conflict.
The clashes are reportedly between the armed forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia formerly allied with Machar. UNMISS has been conducting evacuation operations for injured troops, which have been co-devised with both factions. Nicholas Haysom, the head of UNMISS, condemned the attack on the mission’s personnel as “utterly abhorrent,” emphasizing the unjust nature of the loss of life during the evacuation efforts.
Further intensifying the crisis, multiple arrests of individuals linked to Machar, including high-ranking officials, have raised alarms regarding a potential return to conflict. Following the attack, President Kiir urged calm among citizens, reinforcing his stance against a recurrence of war and assuring that his government would manage the ongoing situation diligently.
Established in 2011, South Sudan remains the world’s newest nation, grappling with the consequences of a protracted struggle for stability from its previous association with Sudan. The international community continues to closely monitor developments in the region.
In summary, the situation in South Sudan has escalated with a UN evacuation attempt thwarted by gunfire, resulting in multiple fatalities. The ongoing violence exacerbates the already fragile peace between government forces and militias, raising concerns of a return to war. The government, led by President Kiir, is urged to maintain order while the UN condemns the attacks on their personnel as potential war crimes, highlighting the critical need for diplomatic resolutions in the conflict.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
