The U.S. has ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff from South Sudan due to rising tensions and violence. Recent clashes threaten the power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar. The UN reported an attack on a helicopter, resulting in fatalities. International observers warn of an impending escalation into full-blown conflict and potential ethnic massacres.
The United States has mandated the evacuation of all non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to escalating tensions, announced the State Department on March 9, 2025. This decision follows a disturbing increase in violence that threatens the fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, particularly in the Upper Nile State.
A recent incident on Friday involved an attack on a United Nations helicopter during a rescue mission, resulting in the death of a crew member alongside an army general, as reported by the UN. The State Department emphasized that the situation has escalated to a point where the safety of non-emergency staff cannot be assured.
“Due to the risks in the country, on March 8, 2025, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees from South Sudan,” stated the State Department.
The ongoing armed conflict encompasses hostilities between various political and ethnic factions, with an alarming availability of weapons among the general populace. Although South Sudan concluded a five-year civil war with a power-sharing deal in 2018, tensions have reignited, particularly in Nasir County, where allegations have arisen that Machar’s forces are collaborating with the White Army, an armed group from his ethnic community.
President Kiir has appealed for calm, asserting that a return to war would not be tolerated. However, international observers continue to express grave concerns about the deteriorating situation. The UN human rights commission has indicated an “alarming regression” in South Sudan, which poses serious risks to the progress achieved in the wake of the civil war.
The International Crisis Group has warned that South Sudan is on a rapid trajectory towards full-scale war and could face “large scale ethnic massacres if the situation is not soon contained.”
In summary, the United States has withdrawn non-emergency staff from South Sudan due to rising tensions stemming from recent clashes between political and ethnic factions. Despite attempts from President Kiir to promote peace, international organizations have expressed serious concerns regarding the potential escalation of violence and the threat of ethnic clashes. The ongoing instability poses significant risks to the fragile peace established following the civil war’s conclusion.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
