The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warns that ongoing clashes in South Sudan may precipitate a return to warfare, jeopardizing the fragile peace established in 2018. Rising tensions, particularly following a violent incident involving a UN helicopter, have raised alarms about stability, despite the government asserting a secure environment. The situation remains closely monitored by regional and international actors due to fears of renewed conflict.
Recent clashes in South Sudan have raised alarms about the possibility of renewed conflict, according to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The regional bloc cautioned that escalating violence between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar threatens the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war.
Tensions have intensified following an attack on a United Nations helicopter seeking to evacuate soldiers, resulting in a UN crew member’s death and that of a South Sudanese general. This highlights the potential for deteriorating stability in a country already strained by internal divisions.
The March 4 assault in Nasir, where approximately 6,000 armed members of the White Army, an ethnic Nuer militia aligned with Machar, overran a military installation, underscores the volatile situation. IGAD remarked that South Sudan is “balanced precariously between the promise of peace and the peril of conflict,” urging involved factions to cease hostilities.
The South Sudanese government has attempted to downplay these fears, with its foreign ministry asserting that the country remains calm and open to visitors, investors, and development partners. However, the United States has reacted by evacuating non-emergency personnel due to ongoing violence.
In addition, Uganda has reportedly deployed special forces in Juba, although South Sudanese officials have denied any foreign military presence. As concerns over a return to widespread violence persist, both regional and international stakeholders are paying close attention to developments in South Sudan.
The escalating clashes in South Sudan pose severe risks for a country that just emerged from a protracted civil war. The IGAD’s warning highlights the precariousness of the current peace agreement and the immediate need for de-escalation among conflicting parties. While the South Sudanese government projects an image of calm, international reactions suggest growing concern over stability in the region.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
