A UN helicopter was shot down in South Sudan, resulting in significant fatalities during an evacuation attempt. President Kiir confirmed further deaths from a subsequent helicopter crash. The ongoing violence threatens a fragile peace between the national leaders, while concerns about a return to war are mounting following recent arrests of government officials. The UN condemned the attack as potentially a war crime, underlining the precarious security situation in the nation.
The United Nations reports a significant loss of life in South Sudan following an attack during an evacuation attempt involving the national army. A UN helicopter was shot down, resulting in the death of one crew member. Furthermore, a general from South Sudan sustained injuries and numerous troops were killed during the operation in Upper Nile state. The UN indicated that this helicopter attack could be classified as a war crime.
In an alarming turn of events, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir announced that a second helicopter, which managed to take off after the initial attack, subsequently crash-landed, resulting in the death of all individuals on board. However, the UN mission (Unmiss) stated that both aircraft successfully landed at Malakal without further incident. According to Information Minister Michael Makuei, the death toll amongst South Sudanese soldiers reached twenty-seven.
This escalation comes amidst ongoing clashes in Upper Nile, threatening the fragile peace between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. Their previous conflict ignited a civil war in 2013 that led to approximately 400,000 deaths and the displacement of 2.5 million people. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2018, violence persists.
The fighting has reignited between the national army and the White Army militia, which previously allied with Machar during the civil war. In coordination with these forces, Unmiss is actively transporting wounded troops from the conflict zone. The head of Unmiss, Nicholas Haysom, condemned the attack on their personnel, emphasizing its travesty and potential violation of international law.
President Kiir confirmed that General Majur Dak, leading the forces in Nasir, was among those killed in the attacks. Authorities have recently detained several of Machar’s associates, including high-ranking officials, raising alarms about a possible return to war in the nation. Following these violent incidents, President Kiir has urged calm, reiterating his commitment to preventing a return to war, asserting, “Our country will not go back to war. No one should take the law into their own hands. The government I lead will handle this crisis.” South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains the world’s newest nation.
In summary, the recent conflict in South Sudan has led to a tragic loss of life amidst escalating violence between armed forces and militias. The UN helicopter attack has been condemned, with implications of war crimes being drawn. As tensions persist between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar, the nation faces renewed fears of instability and potential civil unrest. President Kiir’s calls for calm emphasize the urgent need for stabilizing the situation in this fragile state.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
