The U.S. ordered nonemergency staff to leave South Sudan amid escalating tensions due to fighting. Arrests of government officials linked to Vice President Riek Machar have raised alarm over the peace agreement. The U.N. reported an attack on a helicopter constitutes a war crime, highlighting the deteriorating security situation.
The U.S. State Department has directed nonemergency government personnel to evacuate South Sudan’s capital, Juba, due to intensifying tensions resulting from recent conflict. A travel advisory issued on Sunday indicated ongoing fighting, noting that weapons are easily accessible to the populace.
The conflict escalated after an armed group engaged the nation’s military, which resulted in the detention of two government ministers and a deputy army chief affiliated with Vice President Riek Machar. Supporters of Machar assert that these arrests jeopardize the stability of the peace agreement established in 2018.
South Sudan has a tumultuous history, having experienced a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that claimed over 400,000 lives. The peace accord, signed between President Salva Kiir and Machar, remains under implementation, facing significant challenges amid rising hostilities.
Recent developments included an attack on a U.N. helicopter during a northern evacuation mission, which the U.N. human rights body classified as “considered a war crime.” The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has expressed concerns that the ongoing violence and tensions in Juba are endangering the peace process.
Chairperson Yasmin Sooka remarked on the critical situation, stating, “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.”
The U.S. government’s evacuation order for nonemergency personnel underscores the escalating tensions in South Sudan due to ongoing conflicts and political strife. As armed clashes threaten the fragile peace agreement and human rights situation, international concerns are rising. The urgent need for leadership to recommit to peace and democracy is critical in preventing further regression.
Original Source: apnews.com
