Ongoing clashes in South Sudan have displaced over 50,000 individuals, raising concerns of a potential relapse into civil war. Western nations have offered to mediate discussions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar. The violence threatens the fragile 2018 peace agreement, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Clashes between rival forces in South Sudan have led to the displacement of at least 50,000 individuals since February. The ongoing violence is a source of concern, raising fears that the country could slip back into civil war. The situation has prompted Western governments to offer to mediate the crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to stabilize the fragile peace-sharing agreement.
Tensions have escalated particularly in the northeastern Upper Nile State, where forces aligned with both leaders are engaged in conflict. Recent weeks have seen the arrest of over 20 individuals, including high-ranking officials aligned with Machar. According to Anita Kiki Gbeho from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “the violence is putting already vulnerable communities at greater risk and forcing the suspension of life-saving services.”
The deterioration of security was exemplified by an airstrike carried out on Monday by the South Sudanese government in Nasir County, where supporters of Machar are concentrated. This attack resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, including children. OCHA reported that 10,000 of those displaced have fled into neighboring Ethiopia, and crucial humanitarian services have been disrupted, including the closure of a cholera treatment unit.
Nicholas Haysom, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), warned that the country is on a precarious edge, stating, “the country was poised on the brink of relapse into civil war” and urging immediate action to de-escalate tensions. He cited the situation in neighboring Sudan as a stark reminder of how quickly a nation can enter a state of chaos.
The ongoing conflict continues to jeopardize the 2018 peace agreement between Kiir and Machar, which was reached following a devastating civil war that resulted in approximately 400,000 fatalities. Allegations against Machar’s forces suggest they are inciting unrest in partnership with the White Army, a coalition of armed youths from the Nuer ethnic group. The situation intensified when an estimated 6,000 members of the White Army overtook a military encampment in Nasir, leading to grave losses, including fatalities among UN personnel.
The violent clashes in South Sudan have resulted in significant displacement and threaten the tenuous peace established through the 2018 agreement between Kiir and Machar. With international offers of mediation, there is a pressing need for dialogue to avoid an escalation into civil war. The humanitarian crisis grows deeper, necessitating urgent attention from the global community to stabilize the situation and protect vulnerable populations.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
