Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s information minister, has downplayed concerns regarding national stability. However, reports from the United Nations and assessments from the International Crisis Group indicate a significant deterioration of the situation. Incidents of violence, increased militia activity, and foreign military involvement, including Ugandan forces, underscore the crisis’s severity. The U.S. has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, underscoring the life-threatening risks present in the region.
Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s information minister, recently dismissed public concerns regarding the nation’s stability, attributing these fears to rumors and social media. This assertion is contradicted by several critical developments and evaluations, highlighting a worrying trend in the country.
The United Nations has reported a marked deterioration of the situation in South Sudan. Tensions continue to escalate due to an internal conflict between factions loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The U.N. has noted the fragile state of the 2018 peace agreement, with ongoing fighting particularly in the Upper Nile and Nasir regions.
On March 7, a U.N. helicopter evacuating South Sudanese troops was attacked, resulting in the deaths of U.N. personnel and South Sudanese soldiers, including a senior general. This incident underscores the ongoing violence and risks faced by personnel operating within South Sudan’s borders.
In response to increasing instability, the Ugandan military has dispatched special forces to assist the South Sudan government in securing Juba. This foreign military involvement signifies the critical nature of the situation, reflecting fears that conditions may continue to worsen.
The ‘White Army,’ a militia linked to Machar’s forces, seized an army base in Nasir on March 4, leading to casualties among soldiers and control over the city. This action is part of a broader trend of increasing militia activity which raises concerns of a possible renewed civil conflict, amidst escalating political tensions between Kiir and Machar.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for South Sudan, highlighting a greater risk of life-threatening danger in the region. Consequently, Americans have been warned against travel to South Sudan, and nonessential personnel have been ordered to evacuate the country due to the armed conflict.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) expressed that “tensions are running dangerously high in South Sudan,” emphasizing fears of renewed civil war with militias gaining control over strategic regions, such as Nasir. The ICG also cautioned that the unrest in Upper Nile could extend into other areas, including Sudan.
In summary, Lueth’s assertion that South Sudan’s situation is stable and under control is misleading. Independent assessments paint a contrary picture, revealing an alarming security environment characterized by increased violence and political discord. The involvement of foreign troops, including Ugandan special forces, along with the U.S. travel advisory, further illustrates the escalating crisis in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
