South Sudan is on the verge of descending into full-scale civil war as violence intensifies and political tensions escalate, warned Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

In a video briefing to the UN Headquarters in New York from Juba, Haysom detailed a grim scenario of widespread attacks on civilians, mass displacement, and rising ethnic divisions. He urged all stakeholders to step back from the brink before the nation spirals into yet another devastating conflict.

“A conflict would erase all the hard-won gains made since the 2018 peace deal was signed. It would devastate not only South Sudan but the entire region, which simply cannot afford another war.”
Nicholas Haysom

Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has been plagued by instability.

A brutal civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with his former deputy, Riek Machar. The war, characterized by ethnic violence and mass atrocities, continued until a tenuous peace deal was reached in 2018.

Although the Revitalized Peace Agreement brought relative stability, delays in implementation and unresolved political rivalries have kept tensions high.

Surge in Violence and Mass Displacement

The latest wave of violence began on March 4 when the White Army, a youth militia, launched a large-scale attack on South Sudanese army barracks in Nasir, Upper Nile province.

In retaliation, government forces carried out aerial bombardments using barrel bombs allegedly containing highly flammable accelerants.“These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are causing significant casualties and horrific injuries, especially burns, including to women and children,” said Haysom, reporting that at least 63,000 people have been displaced.

There are growing concerns over further clashes as both the White Army and national forces continue mobilizing. Reports of child recruitment into armed groups have intensified fears of an escalating humanitarian disaster.

Additionally, the presence of foreign troops at the request of the government has heightened tensions, evoking painful memories of previous conflicts.

Political tensions are also reaching a breaking point, Haysom warned. Senior officials linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), the main opposition faction, have been removed from office, replaced, detained, or forced into hiding.

The spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech is further fueling ethnic divisions and deepening fear, making reconciliation increasingly difficult. “Given this grim situation, we are left with no other conclusion but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war,” Haysom stated.

South Sudan on the Brink of Civil War — Nicholas Haysom

Diplomatic Efforts Face Setbacks

In an attempt to defuse tensions, UNMISS has been actively engaging with regional and international partners, including the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission.

However, diplomatic efforts have been hindered. A scheduled high-level visit by IGAD foreign ministers to Juba, aimed at mediating between the warring factions, was unexpectedly postponed by the South Sudanese government without explanation.“This is a disappointing development at a time when diplomatic outreach is more important than ever,” Haysom remarked.

Haysom urged South Sudan’s leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the 2018 peace agreement, uphold the ceasefire, release detained officials, and resolve disputes through dialogue instead of military confrontation.

He also called for President Kiir and First Vice President Machar to meet and publicly declare their joint commitment to peace. “The time for action is now because the alternative is too terrible to contemplate.”

As such, the urgent need for South Sudan’s leaders to reaffirm their commitment to peace cannot be overstated, as the alternative would be catastrophic for the nation and the region.