U.S. Evacuates Personnel from South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions and Violence

The U.S. has ordered nonemergency government staff to leave South Sudan due to increasing tensions from ongoing fighting. Violence involves armed groups clashing with the army and impacting peace agreements established post-civil war. The U.N. warns that current hostilities may derail peace efforts, urging leadership to prioritize human rights and democratic transition.

The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency government personnel to evacuate from South Sudan’s capital as tensions rise due to ongoing conflict in the north. A travel advisory highlights the presence of active fighting and the availability of weapons among civilians. This order reflects the deteriorating security situation following recent clashes between armed groups and the national army.

Recent violence in South Sudan escalated when an armed group engaged government forces, resulting in the detention of two ministers and a deputy army chief linked to Vice President Riek Machar. Reports indicate that Machar’s residence was encircled by military forces, with his supporters claiming these arrests jeopardize the fragile peace agreement established in 2018.

South Sudan suffered a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018, leading to over 400,000 fatalities. Although President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018, full implementation remains elusive. The situation worsened when a U.N. helicopter, engaged in an evacuation mission, was attacked, an act deemed a potential war crime by a U.N. rights committee.

The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan expressed concern that current violence threatens to undermine the peace agreement. Chairperson Yasmin Sooka stated, “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. State Department’s evacuation order for nonemergency personnel from South Sudan indicates a significant rise in tensions amid ongoing violence. The recent clashes involving government officials threaten to destabilize the fragile peace established after years of civil conflict. The U.N. highlights the potential for regression in peace efforts, calling for a renewed commitment to the peace process and protection of human rights.

Original Source: www.2news.com