South Sudan has conducted air strikes against rebels in Nasir County, escalating tensions between government and opposition forces. Local reports indicate civilian casualties, and accusations of militia involvement complicate the conflict further. International bodies express growing concern about the potential regression in the country’s stability due to these developments.
South Sudan’s government recently announced it conducted air strikes on rebel positions located in Nasir County, which is in the northwest region of the country. This military action marks a significant escalation in tensions between government forces, led by President Salva Kiir, and opposition groups under First Vice President Riek Machar, jeopardizing the delicate peace-sharing agreement established after years of civil conflict.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth confirmed the strikes executed in Nasir were part of ongoing security operations. He noted that if civilians were impacts, the government’s response options would be limited. Reports from local sources indicate that the air strikes resulted in over 20 casualties, including children, raising grave concerns about civilian safety.
The clashes in Nasir County have intensified hostilities, risking the stability of the 2018 peace agreement that concluded a devastating five-year civil war in South Sudan, leading to nearly 400,000 fatalities. The government has accused Machar’s forces of collaborating with the White Army militia, which consists of armed youths from the Nuer ethnic group, exacerbating the violence in the region.
Earlier this month, tensions surged further when approximately 6,000 White Army fighters seized a military base in Nasir. The situation was aggravated by an attempted rescue operation by the United Nations that resulted in fatalities, including a UN helicopter pilot and a senior South Sudanese army general, highlighting the precarious security situation.
Minister Lueth also acknowledged the deployment of Ugandan forces in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, as part of a military pact, contradicting prior statements denying such presence. Ugandan Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba confirmed the arrival of special forces in Juba for security assistance.
The escalating violence in South Sudan has sparked international alarm. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights warns that this resurgence of conflict threatens to reverse years of fragile stability and progress in the nation.
The air strikes in Nasir County signal a dangerous escalation in the conflict between South Sudanese government forces and rebel groups, undermining the 2018 peace agreement. The increasing violence, particularly concerning civilian casualties and militia involvement, raises significant humanitarian and political concerns. The inclusion of foreign troops from Uganda further complicates the situation, as the international community watches with increasing alarm regarding South Sudan’s stability.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
