The United States has ordered the departure of all non-emergency government employees from South Sudan amid rising tensions and ongoing violence that threaten the country’s already fragile peace deal.
The State Department’s decision, announced on March 8, 2025, comes as fighting between various political and ethnic factions continues to disrupt South Sudan, with weapons readily available to the population, according to the US government. The decision highlights the growing concerns over the instability in the country, which has been struggling to implement the peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar in 2018. The agreement, which was intended to end a brutal five-year civil war, has failed to fully restore stability, and the relationship between the two leaders remains strained.
The 2013-2018 civil war, sparked by a rift between Kiir and Machar, led to the deaths of over 400,000 people, while millions more were displaced. Although the 2018 power-sharing deal brought an end to the large-scale fighting, key elements of the agreement have yet to be implemented, including the formation of a unified army, the adoption of a new constitution, and the holding of elections.
In recent days, clashes have intensified in the Upper Nile state, where government forces are facing off against militias, including the White Army, a group that fought alongside Machar during the civil war. The violence has also led to the arrest of two ministers and the deputy chief of the army, both of whom are allied to Machar. The arrests have been condemned by opposition spokespeople as a “grave violation” of the peace deal, further escalating tensions.
The situation has become even more dire with an attack on a United Nations helicopter on Friday, which was evacuating national army personnel from a conflict zone. The attack killed several people, including one crew member, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
On Saturday, the UN Human Rights Commission for South Sudan issued a statement warning of an “alarming regression” in the country’s peace process. The Commission expressed concern that the recent violence could undo years of progress towards stability and human rights protections in the country.
Despite the worsening situation, President Kiir has called for calm and assured the nation that the country will not return to full-scale war. He urged the government and opposition to uphold the peace agreement and take steps to resolve the tensions.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, remains one of the world’s most fragile states. Despite its rich natural resources, the country has struggled with political instability, corruption, and ongoing ethnic violence. As a result, international actors have closely monitored the peace process, with the United States, the United Nations, and regional powers all pushing for the successful implementation of the 2018 agreement.
The US decision to withdraw non-essential personnel is a clear signal of the mounting concerns about the security situation. While the peace deal has reduced large-scale fighting, sporadic violence continues in various regions of South Sudan, highlighting the country’s fragile peace and the challenges ahead in rebuilding a stable, unified nation.
