South Sudan’s government has ordered civilians to evacuate a northern area following an airstrike on an armed group accused of attacking military facilities. This action threatens the fragile peace established in 2018. Clashes continue with the White Army, believed to be allied with rival Vice President Riek Machar. Information Minister has warned of consequences for civilians remaining in military zones.
The South Sudanese government has issued a directive for civilians to evacuate a northern region following an airstrike by the army against an armed group. The airstrike targeted a faction accused of seizing a military base and attacking a United Nations helicopter in Nasir County. This escalation poses a risk to the fragile peace agreement established in 2018, which was intended to conclude a devastating five-year civil war.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth stated that civilians remaining in the military zone who refuse to comply with the evacuation order will face consequences. He confirmed the airstrike took place in the region on Sunday night, asserting that military operations will persist.
Local reports indicate that the airstrike resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen civilians; however, the army has not acknowledged this loss of life. In addition, government forces have been engaged in ongoing confrontations with the White Army, a group suspected of having ties to Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir’s political rival.
Tensions have escalated between the two factions, with President Kiir recently dismissing officials affiliated with Machar’s camp, prompting Machar to express concern that such unilateral actions jeopardize the integrity of the 2018 peace accord. Earlier this month, government troops also surrounded Machar’s residence in the capital, Juba, leading to the detention of several of his supporters after the White Army attacked the military base in Nasir County.
The situation in South Sudan remains precarious as the government orders a civilian evacuation due to armed conflicts in Nasir County. The military’s airstrike and ongoing clashes with the White Army underline the fragility of the 2018 peace agreement, with rising tensions between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar’s faction. The potential impact on civilian safety is significant, adding to the urgency of the conflict resolution efforts.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
