The escalating conflict in South Sudan poses a significant risk of reverting to civil war, with heightened tensions between political factions and increasing violence leading to humanitarian crises. The UN emphasizes urgent action to uphold the country’s peace agreement amid alarming political developments.
The security situation in South Sudan is critically deteriorating, driven by escalating tensions between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-IO), under the direction of First Vice President Riek Machar. This turmoil has increased the risk of the nation relapsing into civil war.
On March 4, the youth militia, known as the White Army, seized barracks previously occupied by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), prompting aerial bombings in civilian areas of the Upper Nile region. These attacks, reportedly employing highly flammable accelerants, have resulted in multiple casualties, severe injuries, and the dislocation of approximately 100,000 individuals.
Concerns are rising regarding the potential for violence to escalate further, especially with reports indicating the recruitment of children into the White Army and ongoing mobilization efforts. The situation intensified on March 24 as clashes erupted in Juba between the SSPDF and SPLA-IO forces, generating anxiety among local communities reminiscent of the civil wars in 2013 and 2016.
More troublingly, various military and civilian officials associated with the SPLM-IO have been dismissed or detained, creating further political unrest. Reports on March 26 indicated that Riek Machar had been placed under house arrest. Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), emphasized the urgency, stating that South Sudan stands on the brink of entering civil war once again.
The UN and regional organizations, including the African Union and East Africa’s IGAD, are actively pursuing diplomatic avenues to avert conflict escalation and uphold the hard-fought progress since the signing of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. However, these initiatives’ viability hinges on the commitment of local leaders to engage sincerely in peace processes.
The Secretary-General of the UN has called for an urgent message to South Sudan’s leadership, urging them to prioritize the welfare of their citizens by ceasing hostilities. Background context reveals that South Sudan’s independence from Sudan in 2011 heralded hope, but escalated political tensions led to civil war by 2013. Although the 2018 peace agreement offered a glimpse of stability, its stalled implementation fosters a precarious situation rife with humanitarian crises.
Currently, over nine million individuals in South Sudan require humanitarian assistance, representing about 75% of the population. The ongoing influx of returnees from neighboring Sudan further strains already limited resources, as the nation grapples with cholera outbreaks, plummeting oil revenue, and soaring inflation.
UNMISS was established in 2011 to fortify peace and security throughout South Sudan, focusing now on strategies to prevent recidivism into civil war, promote self-reliance, and address critical gaps that hinder sustainable governance and electoral processes.
The South Sudan crisis is marked by growing tensions between major political factions, leading to fears of renewed civil war. The international community, led by the UN and regional partners, is striving to restore peace and support the Revitalized Peace Agreement, which remains vital for national stability. The humanitarian situation is dire, necessitating immediate action to avert a full-blown catastrophe that affects millions in South Sudan.
Original Source: peacekeeping.un.org
