Tragic Attack on UN Helicopter in South Sudan: Casualties and Implications

A U.N. helicopter was attacked in Nasir, South Sudan, leading to the death of General Majur Dak and many soldiers. The U.N. condemned the attack as potentially a war crime, complicating the fragile peace process. Tensions have escalated due to recent arrests of military officials linked to rival factions.

On Friday, a United Nations helicopter was attacked in the northern town of Nasir, resulting in the deaths of a South Sudanese general and numerous soldiers. The government reported that General Majur Dak was among the deceased, and this incident poses a serious threat to the fragile peace process in South Sudan. The U.N. characterized the attack as “utterly abhorrent” and potentially a war crime, as revealed by reports from News.Az, citing Reuters.

The U.N. crew was executing a mission to airlift soldiers amidst escalating clashes between national forces and the White Army militia, associated with Riek Machar, a rival of President Salva Kiir. President Kiir announced in a national address that Machar had assured both him and the U.N. representative of the safety of General Dak, which led to the attempted evacuation. Information Minister Michael Makuei estimated that around 27 troops had perished in this unfortunate incident, which also claimed the life of a U.N. crew member.

The specifics of the attack remain unclear, particularly whether the helicopter was struck in flight or while it was grounded. While Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, refrained from commenting, his party has denied involvement in the recent clashes. Nicholas Haysom, head of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reiterated the attack’s severity and called for an investigation into the incident, stressing the need for accountability.

Recent developments have seen the arrest of several senior military officials associated with Machar, raising concerns over the stability of the 2018 peace agreement which resolved a brutal civil war. The government has remained silent on these detentions, with most detained officials still in custody or under house arrest.

The White Army predominantly consists of armed youths from the Nuer ethnic group and cooperated with Machar’s forces during the earlier civil war. Although President Kiir has asserted that the nation will not revert to war, experts warn that rising tensions could ignite full-scale conflict. The U.N. has urged all parties to prevent further violence, advocating for dialogue to address the security situation particularly in Nasir, while the nation struggles with lingering unrest.

Since its independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been supported by nearly 20,000 peacekeepers through the U.N. mission, but it has experienced ongoing skirmishes among rival communities, highlighting the persistent instability following the 2018 peace accord.

In summary, the attack on the U.N. helicopter resulted in significant casualties, including that of a high-ranking general, thus threatening the peace process in South Sudan. The U.N. has condemned the incident, urging accountability and a halt to violence. As tensions rise, the nation’s leaders are called to engage in dialogue to avert the possibility of further conflict, despite prior assurances of stability following the 2018 agreement.

Original Source: news.az