Deadly clashes in northern South Sudan have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries to a U.N. peacekeeper. The fighting involved the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and armed youth, utilizing heavy weaponry. The U.N. emphasizes the need for restraint and the completion of the unification of armed forces to ensure stability ahead of delayed elections.
The United Nations has reported intense clashes in northern South Sudan that resulted in civilian casualties and injuries to a U.N. peacekeeper. This conflict highlights the persistent instability in the oil-rich country, which gained independence in 2011 but has faced ongoing violence and political fragmentation since.
The fighting took place in Nassir, Upper Nile state, on February 14-15, between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and armed youth groups. Although the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) did not disclose the identities of the armed groups involved, it noted that heavy weaponry was utilized, leading to numerous fatalities among both civilians and combatants.
While the U.N. did not provide specific casualty figures, they confirmed that one peacekeeper sustained injuries due to mortar shelling during a routine patrol. Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, condemned the violence and stressed the importance of protecting peacekeepers, urging all parties to demonstrate restraint.
The U.N. also caution about ongoing tensions involving organized forces in Western Equatoria, indicating widespread safety concerns across the country. Haysom pointed out that the recent violence underscores the critical need for the deployment of South Sudan’s long-overdue unified armed forces.
The nation previously endured a five-year civil war between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. A peace agreement signed in 2018 mandated the unification of forces before elections, but progress towards this goal has been stalled, according to UNMISS.
The clashes in South Sudan underline the ongoing instability and violence plaguing the nation. The inability to unify armed forces as outlined in the 2018 peace agreement further exacerbates the conflict. The U.N. continues to emphasize the need for restraint among conflicting parties while highlighting the importance of protecting peacekeepers operating in high-risk areas.
Original Source: www.dailysabah.com
