U.S. Evacuates Nonemergency Personnel from South Sudan Amid Rising Tensions
The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency personnel to leave South Sudan due to escalating tensions from ongoing fighting. Arrests of ministers connected to Vice President Riek Machar threaten peace agreements. Recent violence, including an attack on a U.N. helicopter, exacerbates the situation, prompting calls for renewed focus on peace and human rights by leaders.
The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency government personnel to evacuate South Sudan’s capital, Juba, amid rising tensions due to ongoing fighting in the northern regions. The travel advisory highlighted that armed conflict continues and that weapons are now easily accessible to the populace.
A clash involving an armed group and the national army took place recently, resulting in the arrests of two ministers and a deputy army chief affiliated with Vice President Riek Machar, a former rebel leader. Supporters of Machar assert that these arrests pose a significant threat to the peace agreement in the country.
South Sudan experienced a devastating civil war from 2013 to 2018, resulting in over 400,000 fatalities. President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar signed a peace agreement in 2018, which is still undergoing implementation.
Recent events have further deteriorated the security situation, notably an attack on a U.N. helicopter engaged in evacuation that has been classified as a potential war crime by a U.N. rights body. The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan stated that the escalating violence threatens the delicate peace process in the nation.
Chairperson Yasmin Sooka emphasized that the current situation represents a disturbing regression, cautioning that it could undo years of progress toward stability. She called for leaders to prioritize the peace process while safeguarding human rights and ensuring a path toward democracy for the citizens of South Sudan.
The evacuation order by the U.S. State Department underscores the escalating tension and conflict in South Sudan, particularly following recent arrests that challenge the fragile peace. The ongoing violence, including a significant attack on a U.N. helicopter, highlights the urgent need for leadership to refocus on the peace process and uphold human rights. Continued instability risks reversing hard-fought progress toward democracy in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.local10.com
