A U.N. helicopter attack in South Sudan killed a general and numerous soldiers amid rising tensions between national forces and the White Army militia. The U.N. condemned the incident, labeling it potentially as a war crime, and called for investigations. The situation threatens the fragile peace process established by the 2018 agreement that ended the civil war, with political instability growing due to recent detentions of officials allied with opposition leader Riek Machar.
A United Nations helicopter attack in South Sudan resulted in the deaths of a general and dozens of soldiers. The helicopter was attempting to evacuate personnel from Nasir during a conflict involving national forces and the White Army militia, linked to opposition leader Riek Machar’s faction. This incident may negatively impact an already fragile peace process and has been described by the U.N. as “utterly abhorrent”, potentially classifying it as a war crime.
In a national address, President Salva Kiir confirmed the deaths, including General Majur Dak, and stated that Machar had given assurances for the safety of the evacuation mission. Information Minister Michael Makuei indicated that approximately 27 troops were killed alongside a U.N. crew member, although details on whether the helicopter was targeted in the air or on the ground remain unclear.
The U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) head, Nicholas Haysom, condemned the attack, emphasizing the need for an investigation to hold those responsible accountable. Recent arrests of top officials allied with Machar raised concerns about the integrity of the 2018 peace agreement, which ended a civil war that had complicated South Sudan’s political landscape.
The White Army, primarily consisting of armed youth from the Nuer ethnic group, had previously allied with Machar’s forces in the civil war against Kiir’s troops. President Kiir asserted that the country would not return to war; however, experts warn that current tensions could escalate into significant conflict. The U.N. urged leaders to promote peaceful dialogue to maintain stability in Nasir and beyond, despite the continued violence that undermines the peace agreement established in 2018 after devastating conflict that killed around 400,000 people.
Established after South Sudan’s independence in 2011, the U.N. mission encompasses nearly 20,000 peacekeepers from 73 nations, dedicated to maintaining peace in the region as intermittent clashes persist among rival communities.
The recent attack on a U.N. helicopter in South Sudan marks a significant escalation in ongoing tensions, resulting in the deaths of key military personnel and endangering the fragile peace process established in 2018. The U.N. has called for an immediate investigation, while the South Sudanese government grapples with political instability involving significant arrests of military officials. The urgency for dialogue among South Sudan’s leaders has never been greater to prevent a return to widespread conflict.
Original Source: news.az
