South Sudan is on the brink of civil war, warned UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom. Rising violence, ethnic tensions, and political instability are threatening the hard-won peace since the 2018 agreement. Recent attacks have driven thousands from their homes, and diplomatic efforts have stalled. Haysom calls for immediate recommitment to peace to avert disaster.
South Sudan finds itself on the verge of a potential civil war, as warnings came from Nicholas Haysom, the head of the UN Mission in the country (UNMISS). During a press briefing conducted via videolink from Juba recently, he detailed the rising violence, attacks on civilians, forced displacements, and escalating ethnic tensions. Haysom implored all involved parties to halt their advances and forge a path toward peace. “A conflict would erase all the hard-won gains made since the 2018 peace deal was signed. It would devastate not only South Sudan but the entire region, which simply cannot afford another war,” he asserted.
The situation in South Sudan has remained precarious since its independence from Sudan in 2011. The nation experienced a civil war in 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar, resulting in severe ethnic violence and mass humanitarian crises. A peace deal in 2018 provided a fragile stability; however, the implementation has been marked by delays and ongoing political infighting, causing tensions to linger.
Recent violence ignited on March 4, when the White Army, a youth militia, attacked military barracks in Nasir, Upper Nile province. The South Sudanese army retaliated with airstrikes on civilian regions, allegedly using barrel bombs filled with dangerously flammable materials. According to Mr. Haysom, these indiscriminate assaults resulted in numerous casualties and severe injuries—particularly affecting women and children—and have forced at least 63,000 individuals to flee their homes.
Both the White Army and national forces appear to be gearing up for further confrontations, with reports of child recruitment into armed groups emerging, exacerbating the dire situation. The involvement of foreign troops at the government’s request has rekindled memories of the nation’s earlier civil conflicts, heightening fears among citizens.
Escalating political tensions are evident as well. Haysom documented the removal or detention of leading figures from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), a key rival faction, reinforcing an atmosphere of mistrust. Misinformation and hate speech have surged, amplifying ethnic divides and complicating the already tricky road to reconciliation. “Given this grim situation, we are left with no other conclusion, but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war,” he remarked.
Attempts to mediate through diplomatic channels have reportedly stalled. Haysom conveyed that UNMISS is collaborating closely with both regional and international partners, including the African Union and IGAD, to stabilize the situation. Nevertheless, a planned visit from IGAD foreign ministers to facilitate dialogue was abruptly canceled by the South Sudanese government without any justifiable reason. “This is a disappointing development at a time when diplomatic outreach is more important than ever,” he stated.
Mr. Haysom made a call to action, urging leaders in South Sudan to recommit to the 2018 peace agreement, respect ceasefire terms, release detained officials and pursue dialogue over military confrontation. He advocated for President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to convene and publicly affirm their pledge to achieve peace. “The time for action is now because the alternative is too terrible to contemplate,” he concluded.
The ongoing situation in South Sudan poses a grave threat of renewed civil war, as violence surges and political tensions rise. The UN’s Nicholas Haysom cautioned that failure to recommit to peace would lead to devastating consequences. The country must navigate through these turbulent waters with a concerted effort for dialogue and reconciliation, for the preservation of its fragile stability. With influential leaders urged to take urgent action, the future of South Sudan hangs in the balance.
Original Source: www.miragenews.com
