A U.N. helicopter was attacked in South Sudan during a rescue operation, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. President Kiir has urged citizens to remain calm and avoid violence, emphasizing that South Sudan will not return to war. UNMISS has called for an investigation and the commitment of all parties to uphold peace. The situation remains tense, with politics and ethnic unrest threatening the stability of the region.
In response to a recent attack on a United Nations helicopter during a rescue mission in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir called for calm and reaffirmed that the nation will not return to war. This incident resulted in the death of a crew member and seriously injured two others while attempting to extract South Sudanese army members in the Upper Nile State, where tensions have risen between allied forces of Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
The U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that a South Sudanese army general was also killed during the mission. They noted that the situation may qualify as a war crime. President Kiir urged citizens to remain peaceful, stating, “Let no one take law into their hands,” and emphasized his commitment to maintaining peace and navigating through the current crisis.
Despite a peace agreement reached in 2018 that ended a prolonged civil war, the government has faced increased unrest, particularly from Machar’s forces, which are allegedly collaborating with the White Army, a local armed group. In a statement, Machar condemned the recent attack as a “barbaric act” and vowed to prioritize restoring peace, actively engaging with all stakeholders.
Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, labeled the assault on U.N. personnel as “utterly abhorrent” and a potential violation of international law. He expressed regret for the casualties during the extraction attempt, while U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized the necessity of an investigation into the incident to hold accountable those responsible.
The situation escalated when rebels overran a government garrison earlier in the week, prompting multiple arrests of Machar’s supporters in Juba, including the Petroleum Minister and the deputy army chief. UNMISS described its evacuation mission as crucial to curtailing violence and civilian displacement, stressing the importance of adhering to the ceasefire and the peace agreement.
Diplomatic entities from the U.S., U.K., and European Union admonished South Sudanese leaders to prioritize dialogue and peace for the welfare of their citizens, while analysts warn that political maneuvers by Kiir may further destabilize relations with Machar’s faction. The specter of escalating violence looms over South Sudan, with concerns of ethnic conflict growing—”South Sudan is slipping rapidly toward full-blown war,” cautioned International Crisis Group’s Alan Boswell, advocating for U.N. preparedness in deploying peacekeepers to protect civilians.
The attack on the U.N. helicopter highlights the fragile stability in South Sudan, where tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar persist. Diplomatic calls for peace emphasize the urgent need for dialogue and cooperation among political leaders to prevent further escalation of violence. As regional and international stakeholders urge adherence to the 2018 peace agreement, growing fears of ethnic violence underline the precarious situation in the country.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
