UN envoy Nicholas Haysom urges South Sudan’s leaders to meet urgently and promote unity to de-escalate tensions and prevent conflict. He emphasizes the importance of consensus-based decision-making and calls for dialogue to mitigate ongoing violence that has displaced thousands. His warning highlights the need for decisive action to implement peace agreements and support the transition to democratic governance.
Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), urges South Sudan President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar to hold urgent discussions to resolve their differences. He emphasizes the need for the leaders to demonstrate unity by addressing the nation together to reduce rising tensions.
Haysom highlighted the essential nature of de-escalating political tensions, stating, “The parties must de-escalate the current political tensions now before it is too late.” He noted that avoiding a descent into catastrophic conflict, similar to Sudan’s situation, relies on a return to consensus-based decision-making in South Sudan.
Furthermore, Haysom called on the African Union’s High-Level Ad hoc Committee for South Sudan (C5) to promote dialogue among the South Sudanese leadership to effectively mitigate conflict. He stressed the urgency of preventing a return to war while fully implementing the Revitalized Agreement and moving toward democratic elections.
Hostilities intensified in the regions of Nasir and Ulang County after fighting erupted between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army on March 4. A subsequent incident on March 7 involved a UN helicopter being fired upon by the White Army, resulting in several deaths, including a general from the SSPDF and one UN staff member.
The ongoing violence has exacerbated humanitarian issues, displacing around 50,000 individuals, with 10,000 fleeing to neighboring Ethiopia, as noted by UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho.
The UN envoy’s call for urgent dialogue among South Sudanese leaders emphasizes the necessity for unity and conflict mitigation. The escalation of violence in recent weeks has prompted warnings about potential catastrophic outcomes, reinforcing the need for immediate action and adherence to the Revitalized Agreement. The humanitarian crisis stemming from this conflict needs addressing to prevent further displacement and strife.
Original Source: africa.cgtn.com
