The U.S. has ordered nonemergency personnel to evacuate South Sudan’s capital due to heightened tensions amid ongoing clashes. Arrests linked to Vice President Riek Machar threaten the peace agreement, while a recent attack on a U.N. helicopter raises further concerns. U.N. officials emphasize the need for renewed commitment to the peace process.
The U.S. State Department recently instructed nonemergency government personnel to evacuate South Sudan’s capital amidst escalating tensions due to ongoing fighting in the northern regions. This advisory highlights that weapons are easily accessible to the population, indicating a significant security risk.
Conflict erupted when an armed group clashed with the national army leading to the arrests of two government ministers and a deputy army chief linked to Vice President Riek Machar. Supporters of Machar alarmed by these arrests suggest that they jeopardize the country’s peace agreement.
South Sudan experienced a civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in over 400,000 fatalities. A peace agreement was signed in 2018 by President Salva Kiir and Machar, but its implementation remains incomplete.
On Friday, the situation worsened as an attack targeted a United Nations helicopter on an evacuation mission in the north, with the U.N. classifying the attack as a possible war crime. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan raised concerns that the violence could disrupt progress on the peace accord, emphasizing the urgent need for leadership to prioritize the peace process.
Yasmin Sooka, chairperson of the U.N. commission, expressed that this regression could reverse hard-won advancements from previous peace efforts. She called for leaders to concentrate on human rights and facilitate a transition towards democracy, urging a shift from division to collaboration.
The U.S. has ordered nonemergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to increasing violence and political unrest. The situation is exacerbated by arrests connected to Vice President Riek Machar, causing fears over the peace agreement. Continued conflict poses a risk to past progress, and U.N. officials underscore the urgency for leaders to reinstate focus on peace and human rights in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.2news.com
