South Sudan conducted air strikes on rebel positions in Nasir County, raising concerns over peace agreements. Reports indicate over 20 casualties, including children. The escalating violence threatens the fragile 2018 peace deal between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar, prompting international alarm regarding stability in the country.
On Monday, South Sudan confirmed it conducted air strikes targeting rebel positions in Nasir County, an area in the northwest, amid increasing clashes between government and opposition forces. These hostilities have raised alarms regarding the stability of the peace-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth stated that the air strikes are part of ongoing security operations, acknowledging that civilian casualties were regrettably possible.
Reports from local sources indicate that more than 20 individuals, including children, have lost their lives due to the strikes. The ongoing fighting in Nasir County has exacerbated tensions between Kiir’s and Machar’s forces, placing the 2018 peace deal, which concluded a five-year civil war claiming nearly 400,000 lives, in jeopardy.
The government has accused Machar’s forces of coordinating with the White Army—an armed group comprised of youth from the Nuer ethnic community—to incite violence. Earlier this month, tensions escalated when approximately 6,000 White Army fighters seized a military installation in Nasir.
Compounding the situation was a failed rescue attempt by the United Nations that resulted in the death of a UN helicopter pilot and a senior South Sudanese general. Minister Lueth also acknowledged the presence of Ugandan forces in Juba, contrary to previous denials, as per a military agreement for security assistance.
The escalating violence in South Sudan has elicited international concern. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has cautioned that this troubling development could reverse years of precarious stability in the region.
The recent air strikes in Nasir County by South Sudan’s government signify a dangerous escalation in hostilities between government forces and opposition groups. With rising casualties, including civilians, and weakening peace agreements, the future of stability in South Sudan remains uncertain. Continued international scrutiny and dialogue are essential to prevent further deterioration of the situation and to foster long-term peace in the region.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
