US Evacuates Non-Emergency Staff from South Sudan Amid Rising Violence

The US has ordered non-emergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to rising tensions threatening a fragile power-sharing agreement. Following a deadly attack on a UN helicopter, concerns grow over ongoing armed conflict. International observers warn that the country is at risk of large-scale violence and ethnic massacres if the situation deteriorates further.

The United States has mandated the departure of all non-emergency personnel from South Sudan due to escalating tensions, as reported by the State Department on Sunday. The fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar is increasingly under threat following clashes between their allied forces in Upper Nile State.

On Friday, a UN helicopter was attacked, resulting in the death of a crew member and an army general during a related rescue operation. President Kiir sought to assure the public by urging calm and emphasizing that there would not be a return to war, despite rising alarm from international observers.

A State Department statement outlined the risks present in the country. It emphasized that armed conflict persists, involving combat among various political and ethnic factions with accessible weapons in civilian hands. South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, had concluded a five-year civil conflict in 2018 through a power-sharing deal, although recent violence raises new concerns.

Accusations have surfaced against Machar’s forces, who are alleged to be inciting unrest alongside the White Army, an armed youth group from the Nuer ethnic community, in Upper Nile State. The UN Human Rights Commission highlighted an “alarming regression” in progress towards peace in South Sudan.

The International Crisis Group cautioned that the nation is quickly approaching a state of full-scale war. They expressed concern over the potential for large-scale ethnic massacres if the situation deteriorates further without intervention.

The escalation of violence in South Sudan has led the United States to withdraw non-emergency personnel amid fears of a growing conflict. Despite President Kiir’s call for calm, escalating tensions between ethnic and political groups have prompted urgent warnings from international observers regarding the potential for further destabilization and the danger of ethnic violence if not contained promptly.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com