South Sudan is witnessing an “alarming regression” as violent clashes in the country’s northeast threaten to undo years of progress toward peace, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has cautioned.
The situation raises concerns over the fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, which was meant to bring stability to the war-torn nation.
Yasmin Sooka, chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, issued a warning, emphasizing that recent violence could erase “years of hard-won progress.”
“Rather than fuelling division and conflict, leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human rights of South Sudanese citizens, and ensure a smooth transition to democracy.”
Yasmin Sooka
Adding to the urgency, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, expressed “deep concern” over the ongoing hostilities. In a statement issued on Saturday, he called for an “immediate end to all hostilities,” underscoring the growing fears of a renewed civil war.
The latest wave of violence erupted in February when clashes broke out between government security forces and an armed militia in Nasir County, Upper Nile State. Human Rights Watch (HRW) identified the group as an “armed youth militia,” though the exact catalyst for the violence remains unclear.
HRW noted that rumors of forced disarmament may have sparked the initial confrontation. The conflict has since escalated, with fighters reportedly using “heavy weaponry,” according to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Beyond Upper Nile, UNMISS has also reported unrest in Western Equatoria State, further exacerbating instability. The situation worsened when South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, blamed the White Army, a Nuer militia group, for its alleged collaboration with Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/IO). This accusation has fueled speculation that political rivalries are reigniting hostilities.
Tensions reached a critical point when President Kiir ordered the arrests of two officials and several senior military leaders linked to Machar’s faction. The South Sudanese army encircled Machar’s residence, effectively placing him under house arrest. The standoff deepened concerns over whether the already fragile unity government is on the brink of collapse.
Further complicating the crisis, a UN helicopter was attacked on Friday while attempting to evacuate soldiers caught in the fighting. The assault resulted in the death of one crew member and injuries to two others. An army general was also killed during the failed rescue mission, UNMISS confirmed.
‘Reckless Power Struggles’ Threaten Stability
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained independence in 2011 following years of struggle. However, the newly formed state quickly descended into civil war by 2013, as tensions between Kiir and Machar escalated. The conflict claimed over 400,000 lives and displaced millions before the warring factions reached a fragile peace agreement in 2018.
The Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) aimed to unify rival armed groups under a single national force, draft a new constitution, organize general elections, conduct a national census, and disarm all unauthorized militias. However, little progress has been made in implementing these critical reforms.
In a recent statement, Barney Afako, a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, warned that the country is experiencing “a return to the reckless power struggles that have devastated the country in the past.”
He lamented the ongoing “atrocities, rights violations which amount to serious crimes, economic mismanagement, and ever-worsening security,” adding that the people of South Sudan deserve “respite and peace, not another cycle of war.”
Despite the intensifying crisis, Kiir attempted to assure the public of his commitment to peace.
“The government I lead will handle this crisis. We will remain steadfast on the path of peace.”
President Salva Kiir
However, with violence escalating and trust in the peace process deteriorating, many South Sudanese fear that the nation may once again spiral into full-scale war.
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