The government of South Sudan has ordered civilians to evacuate a northern region due to escalating violence, including military strikes against an armed group. These developments threaten the fragile peace deal of 2018. Civilians defying this order may face consequences. Recent conflicts also stem from tensions between President Kiir and Vice President Machar, further destabilizing the region.
On Monday, South Sudan’s government urged civilians to evacuate a northern region following military airstrikes targeting an armed group implicated in assaults on a military base and a United Nations helicopter. This escalation comes just a day after the air raids in Nasir County, which jeopardize a crucial peace agreement established in 2018 between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, ending a devastating civil war that resulted in over 400,000 fatalities.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth announced that civilians who do not comply with the evacuation order from military-designated zones “will be treated accordingly”. He confirmed that airstrikes occurred in Nasir County the previous night, with intentions for further military actions. In a troubling report, Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep indicated that more than twelve civilians perished due to the bombings, though the military refrained from acknowledging these fatalities.
Armed confrontations between government forces and the White Army – an armed group allegedly associated with Machar – have intensified in Nasir County. The situation has been exacerbated by President Kiir’s recent dismissal of officials tied to Machar, prompting Machar to warn that consistent unilateral actions jeopardize the integrity of the 2018 peace deal. Additionally, government forces encircled Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, earlier this month, further escalating tensions.
In conclusion, the situation in South Sudan remains precarious as government authorities request civilian evacuation from conflict zones while military actions escalate. The ongoing violence poses a substantial risk to the 2018 peace agreement aimed at ensuring stability in the region, and responses from both government forces and opposition factions continue to complicate the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Original Source: morningstaronline.co.uk
