South Sudan’s army (SSPDF) boarding military aircraft at Juba International Airport. |Credit: Xinhua|.
On March 19th, the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) convened in Juba to address the escalating military situation in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, involving the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army armed youth.
This conflict, which began two weeks prior, has resulted in numerous fatalities, including civilians, government soldiers, and White Army fighters.
The White Army, primarily composed of armed vigilantes from the Nuer ethnic group, a major South Sudanese tribe, has opposed the redeployment of government soldiers to Nasir and Ulang counties, areas they consider their strongholds.
They have instead called for the deployment of unified forces, as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement’s security arrangement protocol, which mandates unified forces nationwide to protect the population and the country’s territorial integrity.
On March 7, the White Army attacked the army garrison in Nasir County, killing many soldiers, including a highly decorated SSPDF Commander, Gen. David Majur Dak, and a UN helicopter crew.
The defeat angered President Kiir’s government and triggered military assistance from neighboring Uganda. The SSPDF and Uganda’s UPDF (Uganda People’s Defence Forces) have been bombing Nasir and Ulang counties killing several civilians and displacing over 50,000 people from their homes.
Uganda—one of the guarantors of the revitalized peace agreement, has been fighting alongside the South Sudan government to defeat the opposition forces. Footages shared on social media suggest the use of chemical bombs in Nasir and Ulang counties.
The ADC and UNMISS have expressed their deep concern regarding the ongoing security challenges in Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el-Ghazal, and Upper Nile States, and have urged all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions.
They commend President Salva Kiir’s public commitment to avoiding a return to war and encourage the coalition government to take swift action to prevent further violence.
Both the ADC and UNMISS stress the importance of protecting the lives and property of civilians affected by these conflicts and implore all parties to refrain from actions that could compromise civilian safety and security.
They also welcome the planned visit of the High-Level IGAD Delegation to South Sudan and express their full support for IGAD’s efforts.
Finally, the ADC and UNMISS advocate for dialogue, urging the Presidency to prioritize ‘African Solutions’ to address ‘African problems’ in order to achieve peace in South Sudan.
