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South Sudan on Brink of Renewed Violence, UN Warns
South Sudan is facing a heightened risk of mass violence against civilians as renewed clashes adn inflammatory rhetoric escalate tensions, according to independent UN experts. The warning comes amid fighting in Jonglei state and concerning statements from military officials.
Escalating conflict in Jonglei State
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan expressed “grave alarm” at the fighting in Jonglei state, north of the capital, Juba. Witnesses report civilians fleeing to swamps to escape the violence. The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang, ordered residents of Jonglei to evacuate areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and move to ”government controlled areas quickly.” Koang further stated that civilians remaining in those areas would be considered “legitimate military targets.”
Political Instability and Power Struggle
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has been plagued by war, poverty, and corruption. The current crisis is rooted in a breakdown of a power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and his former vice-president,Riek Machar. Machar was arrested in March 2023 and is currently on trial for “crimes against humanity”