The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency personnel to evacuate South Sudan amidst escalating tensions due to ongoing fighting. Clashes involving government officials threaten the 2018 peace agreement between President Kiir and Vice President Machar, while recent attacks on U.N. missions complicate the security landscape.
The U.S. State Department has mandated the departure of nonemergency government personnel from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, as tensions increase due to ongoing conflict in the northern regions. In its travel advisory issued on Sunday, the department highlighted that fighting persists and that firearms are readily accessible to local populations.
Recent clashes between an armed group and the national army resulted in the detention of two government ministers and a deputy army chief, all affiliated with former rebel leader and current Vice President Riek Machar. Machar’s residence was surrounded by military forces, as his supporters claimed that these arrests jeopardized the existing peace agreement in the country.
South Sudan was embroiled in a civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in over 400,000 fatalities. In 2018, President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar entered into a peace agreement, which has yet to be fully implemented. The security situation worsened further on Friday when an attack occurred on a U.N. helicopter involved in an evacuation mission in the north, an incident labeled as a “war crime” by a U.N. human rights body.
On Saturday, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan expressed concern over the escalating violence and heightened tension in Juba, warning that these developments may undermine the peace agreement. Yasmin Sooka, the chairperson, remarked, “We are witnessing an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won progress. Rather than fueling 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.”
In light of recent developments in South Sudan, the U.S. State Department’s decision to evacuate nonemergency personnel underscores the escalating tensions and violence within the nation. The clashes involving government figures and military forces raise significant concerns about the stability of the peace agreement achieved in 2018. Vigilance and renewed commitment to the peace process and human rights are crucial to ensuring that progress is not undone.
Original Source: www.local10.com
