The U.S. has evacuated non-emergency staff from South Sudan due to increasing violence. Recent clashes threaten a tenuous power-sharing agreement, with international bodies warning of a regression in peace and potential ethnic conflict. Calls for calm from Kiir are overshadowed by warnings of imminent large-scale violence from observers.
The U.S. Department of State has mandated the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from South Sudan, effective March 8, 2025, due to escalating violence and increasing international concerns. This decision follows recent clashes that have jeopardized the fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
Complicating the situation, a United Nations helicopter was attacked during a rescue operation, resulting in the death of a crew member and an army general. The ongoing armed conflict involves confrontations between various political and ethnic factions, with weapons easily accessible within the local population.
South Sudan, the youngest nation, had its civil war conclude in 2018 with a power-sharing arrangement between Kiir and Machar. However, accusations have arisen from Kiir’s allies, blaming Machar’s forces for who are allegedly instigating unrest in Upper Nile State, particularly with the support of the White Army, comprised of armed youths from the Nuer ethnic group.
Despite Kiir’s calls for calm and assurance against a return to war, international observers have expressed grave concerns. The UN Human Rights Commission for South Sudan has indicated a worrying regression in peace efforts, while the International Crisis Group has warned that the country is rapidly approaching a state of full-blown war, with a heightened risk of large-scale ethnic massacres if the current situation remains unchecked.
The U.S. has ordered the withdrawal of non-emergency personnel from South Sudan amid worsening violence and threats to the peace agreement between Kiir and Machar. Clashes and the recent attack on a UN helicopter highlight the instability, prompting warnings from international observers about a potential return to widespread conflict and ethnic violence. Immediate action is necessary to mitigate further escalation of the crisis.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
