UN Envoy Urges De-Escalation of Tensions in South Sudan

UN envoy Nicholas Haysom has urged South Sudan’s President and Vice President to meet urgently to de-escalate rising tensions. He emphasized the importance of consensus-based decision-making to prevent conflict escalations, drawing parallels with Sudan. Haysom called for efforts towards peace and the upcoming democratic elections. Ongoing violence has resulted in significant displacement within the country.

Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has called for urgent measures to mitigate rising tensions in South Sudan. He urges President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar to engage constructively in dialogue to resolve their differences, emphasizing the importance of presenting a united front to the nation. Haysom stated, “The parties must de-escalate the current political tensions now before it is too late. There is only one path out of this cycle of conflict, and that is through the Revitalized Agreement.”

During a recent meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, Haysom highlighted the necessity for consensus-based decision-making among the leaders to avoid escalating violence, using the situation in Sudan as a cautionary tale. He expressed the critical need for unity to prevent South Sudan from descending into catastrophic conflict and emphasized that, “We need to look no further than across the northern border to Sudan for a stark reminder of how quickly countries can descend into catastrophic war.”

Haysom appealed to the African Union’s High-Level Ad hoc Committee for South Sudan (C5) and the Panel of the Wise to facilitate constructive dialogue among South Sudanese leaders, prioritizing conflict mitigation. He underscored the imperative of preventing a relapse into war while supporting the full implementation of agreements and progressing towards the nation’s first democratic elections.

Recent hostilities in Nasir and Ulang County have intensified following clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army. Notably, on March 7, a UN helicopter was attacked, resulting in casualties, including a general from the SSPDF and one UN personnel. The ongoing violence has displaced approximately 50,000 people, with UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan Anita Kiki Gbeho reporting that 10,000 individuals have fled to Ethiopia.

The urgent appeal by Nicholas Haysom underscores the significant political tensions in South Sudan and the need for constructive dialogue between the nation’s leaders. With escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis unfolding, it is imperative that the leaders collaborate to prevent further conflict and ensure the implementation of peace agreements, ultimately guiding the country towards a democratic future.

Original Source: africa.cgtn.com