The US has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to increasing tensions threatening a fragile peace agreement between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar. There have been recent violent clashes, arrests of officials, and warnings of an alarming regression towards conflict. The peace process is faltering, with significant elements of the 2018 peace deal yet to be implemented.
In response to escalating tensions in South Sudan, the United States has mandated the departure of non-emergency staff from the country. Recent fighting poses a significant threat to the precarious peace agreement established in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar, which was aimed at ending a civil war responsible for hundreds of thousands of casualties.
The US State Department announced on March 08, 2025, that due to ongoing violence among various political and ethnic factions in South Sudan and the widespread availability of weapons, non-emergency personnel are to evacuate. The UN human rights commission has also expressed concern over what it termed an “alarming regression” in progress towards peace.
Amid growing unrest, President Kiir has urged peace and reassured citizens that there would be no return to war. However, tensions heightened when a UN helicopter, evacuating national army members, came under gunfire, resulting in fatalities, including that of a crew member. Additionally, recent arrests of high-ranking officials allied to Machar have been described as a severe breach of the peace deal.
Since its independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has faced continuous turmoil, soon descending into a civil war following rifts between Kiir and Machar that resulted in over 400,000 deaths. Although a power-sharing agreement in 2018 curtailed fighting, substantial components of that agreement, such as the creation of a new constitution and elections, have yet to be realized, and sporadic violence persists throughout the nation.
In summary, the United States’ decision to evacuate non-emergency staff from South Sudan highlights the severe tensions threatening the fragile peace established between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar. The situation remains precarious, with continued violence, significant breaches of peace agreements, and a concerning regression in progress toward stability. The international community and involved parties must address these challenges to prevent further deterioration in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
