A UN evacuation mission in South Sudan was disrupted by gunfire, resulting in multiple deaths, including a crew member and South Sudanese troops. President Kiir reported a second helicopter crash. The UN may classify the incident as a war crime. Ongoing violence threatens peace agreements between President Kiir and Vice-President Machar.
In South Sudan, a UN evacuation mission faced violence when one of its helicopters was shot at, resulting in casualties. The UN reported that one crew member was killed, alongside an injured South Sudanese general and several troops during an evacuation in Upper Nile state. President Salva Kiir confirmed the incident, stating that a second helicopter took off after the attack but crashed, leading to the deaths of all its passengers.
The UN has not validated Kiir’s claims but acknowledged that the helicopter attack “may constitute a war crime.” This incident occurs amidst prolonged fighting between the national army and the White Army militia, indicating a risk to an already fragile peace agreement established in 2018.
The turmoil in Upper Nile stems from ongoing conflicts involving the national armed forces and militia groups previously allied with Vice-President Riek Machar. UNMISS Director Nicholas Haysom condemned the attack as “utterly abhorrent” and expressed condolences for the losses incurred during the evacuation efforts, which sought to secure safe passage for wounded soldiers.
President Kiir named the deceased general as Gen Majur Dak, citing him as a critical military figure in the region. The situation has worsened with several arrests of Machar’s associates, raising fears of a potential return to conflict in South Sudan. In response to the escalations, Kiir has urged the populace to remain calm, asserting that his government will manage the crisis effectively and promising peace in the nation, which became independent in 2011.
The recent shooting incident involving a UN helicopter in South Sudan highlights the volatile security conditions in the country, jeopardizing the stability of a fragile peace agreement. The deaths of military personnel and UN staff during this evacuation reflects the serious implications of ongoing ethnic violence in Upper Nile. President Kiir’s assurance against a return to war underscores the fragility of peace in South Sudan, amid rising tensions following significant arrests of political and military figures.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
