Recent clashes in South Sudan are reversing years of progress toward peace, with the UN warning of alarming regression due to a fragile power-sharing agreement between leaders Kiir and Machar. A UN helicopter attack resulted in casualties, prompting calls for calm and a focus on human rights and democracy. The African Union has also condemned the violence and demanded an immediate stop to hostilities.
South Sudan faces an alarming regression, as indicated by recent clashes in the northeast that threaten peace advancements. The United Nations Human Rights Commission expressed these concerns, highlighting tensions surrounding a fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Ongoing clashes among their allied forces in Upper Nile State could undermine years of progress toward stability.
Compounding the situation, a United Nations helicopter involved in a rescue operation in Upper Nile was attacked, resulting in one crew member’s death and injuries to two others. An army general also died during the botched rescue, amplifying fears in a nation already burdened by persistent political turmoil and violence. Kiir responded by urging calm and pledging against a return to war.
Yasmin Sooka, chairing the UN commission, stated that South Sudan is experiencing a regression that could reverse years of progress. She called for leaders to shift focus from division to peace initiatives, emphasizing the urgency of upholding citizens’ human rights and facilitating a transition towards democracy.
The unity government, formed after a five-year civil war ended in 2018, is now jeopardized by accusations from Kiir’s allies against Machar’s forces, who allegedly seek to destabilize the region in collaboration with armed youth groups known as the White Army, linked to Machar’s Nuer ethnic community.
UN commissioner Barney Afako lamented the return to destructive power struggles, citing the ongoing atrocities and rights violations to which South Sudanese have been subjected. He asserted that the populace deserves peace instead of entering another cycle of conflict. An accompanying statement from the African Union condemned the escalation of violence and called for immediate cessation of hostilities.
The situation in South Sudan is dire, with increasing violence threatening the peace process established after years of conflict. Both the UN and AU are urging leaders to prioritize peace and human rights to avoid reverting to past cycles of violence. The fragility of the power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar underscores the need for urgent action to stabilize the region and protect the rights of its citizens.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
