South Sudan is facing the imminent threat of renewed civil war, according to the top U.N. official in the nation. The warning follows the government’s unexpected postponement of a critical peace initiative.
Describing the situation as “dire,” the U.N. envoy emphasized that international efforts for a peaceful resolution hinge on the willingness of President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar to prioritize their citizens’ needs over personal interests.
Since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has struggled with internal conflicts, descending into a civil war in December 2013 largely fueled by ethnic tensions between Kiir’s Dinka supporters and Machar’s Nuer faction.
The brutal conflict resulted in over 400,000 deaths and led to a fragile peace agreement in 2018, which was meant to unite the warring leaders. Despite expectations for elections in February 2023, these have been postponed twice, now set for December 2024 and possibly 2026.
Recent hostilities have erupted in northern South Sudan, where government forces are clashing with a rebel militia known as the White Army, believed to be aligned with Machar.
A recent incident saw a South Sudanese general among those killed when a U.N. helicopter, tasked with evacuating government troops from the conflict zone in Nasir, came under attack. This violence escalated further when the White Army captured a military garrison in Nasir, prompting government troops to respond with arrests of key allies of Machar in the capital, Juba.
The U.N. official noted that escalating violence is particularly concerning as elections approach, intensifying political competition and mistrust between Kiir and Machar. He stated that misinformation and hate speech are exacerbating existing ethnic divisions, further destabilizing the region.
Facing this grim reality, the U.N. warns that South Sudan is on the brink of another civil war, which could replicate the horrors experienced during previous conflicts in 2013 and 2016.
As the head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, the envoy stressed the seriousness of the potential “ethnic transformation” of the conflict and the urgency of preventive measures.
The U.N. is actively pursuing shuttle diplomacy with both international and regional partners to avert further conflict. The collective message is clear: Kiir and Machar must engage in dialogue to resolve their differences, recommit to the 2018 peace agreement, adhere to the ceasefire, and release detained officials to foster stability rather than military confrontation.
In a correction to prior reports, the death toll from the civil war is confirmed at 400,000, highlighting the devastating impact of past violence.
