South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Lueth, downplays stability concerns, claiming fears stem from social media. However, reports from the U.N. indicate significant unrest, marked by militia attacks and political tensions. The U.S. issues a Level 4 travel advisory, and the involvement of Ugandan military forces underscores the crisis’s seriousness. Independent assessments predict a potential resurgence of civil war.
Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s information minister, has attempted to downplay concerns regarding instability in the country by attributing fears to rumors and social media. However, numerous reports challenge this view, revealing a much more troubling reality on the ground.
The United Nations has indicated a severe deterioration in the situation in South Sudan, citing escalating tensions primarily between factions loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. The fragile status of the 2018 peace agreement ends the previous civil conflict, yet fighting persists notably in regions like Upper Nile and Nasir.
A recent attack on March 7 against a U.N. helicopter evacuating South Sudanese troops underscores the perilous situation. This incident led to the deaths of U.N. personnel and several South Sudanese soldiers, including a senior general, emphasizing the ongoing risks faced by those in the area.
To address increasing instability, the Ugandan military has deployed special forces to South Sudan. Such foreign military involvement is often indicative of a critical emergency, suggesting that the security situation is alarming.
Militia activities, specifically from the “White Army,” have further exacerbated tensions. On March 4, this militia overran a military base in Nasir, resulting in the deaths of numerous soldiers and control of the city. Concurrently, political tensions remain high with arrests of generals linked to Machar’s faction.
The U.S. Department of State has classified South Sudan as a Level 4 travel advisory area, which denotes the highest warning level due to significant risks of life-threatening situations. Americans have been advised against travel and nonessential personnel have been ordered to evacuate.
According to the International Crisis Group, tensions are perilously elevated in South Sudan, with fears of a renewed civil war looming, especially as groups like the White Army gain strategic locations like Nasir. The risk of conflict spreading to neighboring areas, particularly Sudan, has also been raised.
The violence from the 2013-2018 civil war, which resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths, underscores the acute nature of the current crisis.
Lueth’s assertions that fears are unfounded and that the situation is stable do not hold when juxtaposed against independent evaluations and international observations. The contrasting findings paint a picture of a swiftly worsening security environment plagued by violence, instability, and the likelihood of renewed civil conflict. The involvement of foreign military forces, such as Uganda’s, alongside the U.S. travel advisory, further highlight the critical state of affairs in South Sudan.
Lueth’s dismissal of fears regarding instability in South Sudan is contradicted by independent evaluations and international reports. The worsening security situation, characterized by increasing violence and political turmoil, points toward a potential resurgence of civil war. The presence of Ugandan troops and the U.S. travel advisory reinforce the severity of the ongoing crisis.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
