A U.N. helicopter in South Sudan was attacked while evacuating soldiers, resulting in one crew member and several soldiers’ deaths. The incident occurred amid clashes between national forces and the White Army militia. U.N. officials condemned the attack as potentially a war crime and called for an investigation. Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating due to the arrest of officials linked to First Vice President Riek Machar.
On Friday, a United Nations helicopter was struck by gunfire while attempting to evacuate South Sudanese soldiers in Nasir, resulting in the death of a crew member along with several soldiers, including a general. This incident occurred amid intense confrontations between national forces and the White Army militia, a group associated with forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, as indicated by President Salva Kiir’s government.
Nicholas Haysom, the head of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), condemned the attack, stating, “The attack… is utterly abhorrent and may constitute a war crime under international law.” He expressed regret over the casualties of the soldiers they intended to extract and emphasized the need for an investigation into the incident.
The spokesperson for the South Sudanese government, Information Minister Michael Makuei, did not respond to requests for comments. However, President Kiir is scheduled to address the nation on Friday afternoon amid rising tensions. The White Army, largely comprising individuals from the Nuer ethnic group, previously aligned with Machar’s forces in the civil war from 2013 to 2018 against Kiir’s predominantly Dinka troops.
In a troubling development, Machar’s representative reported that security forces have detained several high-ranking officials allied with him, prompting concerns for the already fragile peace in South Sudan. The government remains silent regarding these arrests, while Machar’s party has denied any involvement in the ongoing violence in Nasir.
This tragic incident underscores the escalating violence in South Sudan, exacerbated by the ongoing tensions between ethnic groups and political factions. The U.N. Mission in South Sudan has called for accountability regarding the attack on the helicopter, while the government grapples with internal strife following the arrests of key officials. The continued unrest presents significant challenges to the peace process in the country.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
