The United Nations has issued a call for calm in South Sudan following deadly clashes in Upper Nile state that resulted in civilian casualties and the injury of a UN peacekeeper, Al Jazeera reports.
Fighting erupted between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPSF) and “armed youth” in Nasir, a town bordering Sudan, on February 14 and 15, according to a statement released by the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday.
The statement did not identify the specific armed groups involved in the conflict with the SSPSF, the national military force led by President Salva Kiir, the head of the country’s unity government.
UNMISS reported that some fighters employed “heavy weaponry which has, reportedly, resulted in deaths and injuries to civilians as well as armed personnel.” While the statement did not provide specific figures on the number of casualties, it confirmed that a UN peacekeeper sustained injuries from mortar shelling while on a scheduled patrol.
South Sudan, a nation rich in oil but plagued by poverty and instability since achieving independence in 2011, has been grappling with frequent clashes and political infighting.
The UN statement also highlighted “persistent tensions” in Western Equatoria state, located on the opposite side of the country, involving “organised forces,” though further details were not disclosed.
Nicholas Haysom, head of UNMISS, stated that the situation in both Upper Nile and Western Equatoria underscores the urgent need for the complete deployment of South Sudan’s unified armed forces.
South Sudan endured a brutal five-year civil war between President Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar. A 2018 peace agreement stipulated the unification of armed forces prior to upcoming elections, which have been repeatedly delayed. UNMISS has confirmed that the unification of the army has yet to be fully realized, contributing to the ongoing instability.
The UN’s plea for calm underscores the fragility of the peace process in South Sudan and the urgent need for the full implementation of the 2018 peace agreement to prevent further violence and civilian casualties.
