South Sudan has conducted air strikes in Nasir County amidst escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth confirmed the operations, which resulted in significant civilian casualties. The conflict jeopardizes the 2018 peace agreement and has drawn international concern regarding human rights and stability in the region.
South Sudan has recently intensified its military operations against rebel forces, conducting air strikes in Nasir County, Upper Nile State. Rising tensions between the loyal factions of President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar pose significant risks to their tenuous peace-sharing agreement established in 2018.
During a press conference, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth confirmed, “Our air force bombarded Nasir this morning,” revealing that these strikes were executed as part of broader security operations. Reports indicate that at least 20 individuals, including children, have lost their lives in these clashes.
Lueth cautioned that civilians may be affected by military actions, stating, “If you as a civilian happen to be there… then there is nothing we can do.” The conflict has marred the peace deal initially brokered in 2018, which aimed to end a civil war that resulted in approximately 400,000 fatalities.
Allies of Kiir have accused Machar’s forces of inciting violence in Nasir, allegedly collaborating with the White Army, a militia group comprising members from Machar’s Nuer ethnic group. Tensions escalated recently when around 6,000 White Army fighters attacked a military camp in Nasir.
An attempted rescue mission by the United Nations resulted in the tragic death of a UN helicopter pilot alongside a senior South Sudanese military general. Additionally, Lueth acknowledged the presence of Ugandan armed forces in Juba under a “military pact,” despite earlier claims denying their presence.
Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba stated that special forces from Uganda “entered Juba to secure it,” further complicating the security landscape in South Sudan. The rising unrest has reignited international concern, leading the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to warn of an “alarming regression” compromising years of developmental progress.
In summary, South Sudan’s military actions against rebel forces signify a critical escalation that threatens the fragile peace established after its civil war. The loss of life, potential involvement of Ugandan forces, and accusations of unrest further complicate the country’s stability. International observers are alarmed by these developments, warning of severe repercussions on the peace process.
Original Source: www.citizen.digital
