UN Warns South Sudan Faces Imminent Conflict Amid Rising Violence

The United Nations warns of impending conflict in South Sudan due to escalating militia violence and a fragile peace agreement between President Kiir and Vice President Machar. The situation has led to a humanitarian crisis and the involvement of Uganda, raising concerns of regional instability as tensions with neighboring Sudan also increase.

The situation in South Sudan is increasingly precarious, as the United Nations indicates the nation could plunge back into conflict. A tenuous power-sharing agreement, originally established following the civil war that erupted shortly after South Sudan’s independence in 2011, is in jeopardy. Amid escalating tensions and militia violence, the U.S. has begun evacuating non-emergency personnel, highlighting the deepening crisis.

Rising tensions stem from conflicts between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar, who previously engaged in a violent struggle but entered a unity government following a peace deal in 2018. However, recent actions by Kiir, including dismissing Machar’s loyalists and surrounding his residence with troops, have exacerbated tensions. Clashes between government forces and the White Army, a militant group associated with Machar’s Nuer ethnic group, have notably intensified.

The escalation of violence includes a recent attack that resulted in the deaths of over 19 individuals in Nasir, prompting civilian evacuations. Kiir’s dismissal of the Upper Nile State governor from Machar’s party further underscores the fractures within the government.

The UN’s significant peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, comprising around 20,000 personnel, is warning of a potential return to civil war. The country’s recent history is marked by a brutal civil conflict that claimed over 400,000 lives. Current evaluations from the UN Commission on Human Rights indicate a disturbing regression, with a humanitarian crisis worsening—half the populace facing food insecurity.

Neighboring Uganda’s involvement, notably through the deployment of troops to support Kiir, has drawn criticism from opposition factions within South Sudan. Following this intervention, Machar’s party has begun to withdraw from certain security arrangements made in the 2018 peace accord.

The ongoing hostilities in adjacent Sudan further complicate South Sudan’s political landscape, with economic dependence on oil revenues placing the nation in a vulnerable position. The Horn of Africa Director at the International Crisis Group, Alan Boswell, expressed concerns over the interconnected crises, indicating that conflict in Sudan could contribute to a broader instability affecting South Sudan.

In summary, South Sudan stands on the precipice of renewed conflict, with internal strife and external pressures from neighboring nations threatening stability. The fragile power-sharing agreement between President Kiir and Vice President Machar is under severe strain, compounded by rising militia violence and humanitarian crises. The involvement of Uganda and regional dynamics with Sudan further complicate the situation, marking a critical time for the world’s youngest nation.

Original Source: www.northcountrypublicradio.org