The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to rising tensions from ongoing fighting. Recent clashes have led to arrests linked to Vice President Riek Machar, raising concerns about the peace agreement. A U.N. helicopter attack exacerbated the security situation, with officials warning that current violence could undermine efforts for stability.
On Sunday, the U.S. State Department mandated the departure of nonemergency government personnel from South Sudan’s capital due to escalating tensions stemming from ongoing fighting in the northern regions. In a travel advisory issued, the State Department noted that the conflict persists and that firearms are readily accessible to the local populace.
This week, violent confrontations erupted between an armed group and the national army, resulting in the detention of two government ministers and a deputy army chief associated with Vice President Riek Machar, a former rebel leader. The situation intensified further as the army surrounded Machar’s residence, prompting concerns from his supporters that these arrests could jeopardize the fragile peace agreement in the country.
From 2013 until 2018, South Sudan experienced a devastating civil war that claimed over 400,000 lives. Subsequently, in 2018, President Salva Kiir and his rival Machar entered into a peace agreement, which is still being implemented. Recent events have highlighted the precariousness of this arrangement.
Last Friday, an attack on a U.N. helicopter engaged in an evacuation mission in the north exacerbated the security challenges, with a U.N. human rights body labeling the incident as a potential war crime. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan reported that the violence in northern regions and growing tensions in Juba pose threats to the peace process.
Yasmin Sooka, the chairperson of the Commission, remarked on Saturday, indicating the severity of the situation: “We are witnessing an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress. Rather than fueling division and conflict, leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human rights of South Sudanese citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy.”
In summary, the U.S. has ordered the evacuation of nonemergency personnel from South Sudan amid rising tensions and violence. The unrest, characterized by clashes involving the army and armed groups, threatens the ongoing peace process established after years of civil war. United Nations officials have emphasized the need for a renewed commitment to human rights and democratic stability in South Sudan, underscoring the potential dangers of violence revisiting the nation.
Original Source: www.2news.com
