International concern is mounting as tensions rise in South Sudan, with growing cracks in the ruling coalition threatening the fragile peace established following the country’s brutal civil war. Recent clashes in the northeastern Upper Nile State between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those allied to First Vice President Riek Machar have raised fears of a potential return to full-scale conflict.
South Sudan’s unity government, formed in 2018 under the terms of a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, has struggled to maintain stability. The conflict, which began in 2013, resulted in the deaths of nearly 400,000 people and displaced millions. Under the power-sharing agreement, President Kiir and Machar, who was once a rebel leader, were meant to work together to govern the country, but recent incidents have highlighted the fragility of this arrangement.
On Tuesday, an armed group clashed with the South Sudanese military in Upper Nile State, leading to significant political fallout. Two government ministers and a deputy army chief allied with Machar were arrested in connection to the violence, further deepening the divide between the two factions. The clashes have sparked concerns that the unity government could unravel, reigniting the civil conflict that has plagued the country for nearly a decade.
As the violence escalates, the United States took swift action on Sunday, ordering all non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan, citing ongoing fighting and the proliferation of weapons among the population. The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory, warning of the worsening security situation and urging American citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the country.
The violence has also led to increased risks for humanitarian workers and peacekeeping missions. On Friday, a United Nations helicopter was attacked during a rescue operation in South Sudan, resulting in the death of a crew member. The UN has condemned the attack, and the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan expressed alarm at the escalating violence, warning that the country could face a “regression” that would undo years of hard-won progress toward peace and stability.
Yasmin Sooka, the chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, called for urgent action from the country’s leaders. “Rather than fuelling division and conflict, leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human rights of South Sudanese citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy,” Sooka said in a statement on Saturday.
The deteriorating situation in South Sudan has drawn widespread international concern, with calls for stronger diplomatic efforts to ensure the survival of the peace agreement and prevent a return to the devastating violence that has ravaged the country in recent years. The international community, along with the UN and regional partners, must now act quickly to prevent further escalation and promote stability in the world’s youngest nation.
