A UN helicopter evacuation in South Sudan came under fire, resulting in multiple fatalities including a crew member and several soldiers. The incident adds to the growing tensions in the region as fighting continues to threaten a fragile peace agreement.
**Tragic Attack on UN Helicopter in South Sudan Leaves Multiple Casualties**
**Tragic Attack on UN Helicopter in South Sudan Leaves Multiple Casualties**
Fatal incident during evacuation raises concerns of escalating conflict.
In a devastating development in South Sudan, a UN helicopter engaged in an evacuation mission was targeted by gunfire, leading to multiple fatalities. According to a statement from the UN mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), one crew member and an injured South Sudanese general were killed during the rescue operation meant to extricate troops from the ongoing conflict in Upper Nile state. The UN emphasized that the assault on its helicopter could be classified as a war crime.
President Salva Kiir confirmed the loss of another helicopter that managed to take off after the attack but later crashed, killing all those on board. However, Unmiss reported that both of its helicopters arrived safely in the city of Malakal. The incident resulted in a tragic total of twenty-seven South Sudanese soldiers losing their lives, as cited by Information Minister Michael Makuei.
This latest episode of violence comes amidst weeks of fierce fighting in Upper Nile, embroiling South Sudan's already troubled peace effort between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. The rivalry between Kiir and Machar previously incited a civil war from 2013 to 2018 resulting in immense human suffering, including the deaths of around 400,000 individuals and the displacement of millions.
Fighting has reignited between government forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia which was allied with Machar during the civil conflict. In light of the ongoing tensions, Unmiss has been attempting to provide medical evacuations for wounded soldiers, operating under assurances of safe passage.
Unmiss head Nicholas Haysom condemned the attack as "utterly abhorrent," expressing sorrow over the loss of both a crew member and the soldiers they aimed to rescue. President Kiir expressed his sorrow over the casualties, particularly that of Gen. Majur Dak, who led forces in the affected region.
The overall atmosphere in South Sudan is increasingly precarious, with recent arrests of key figures close to Machar raising fears of a return to violence. However, President Kiir has urged citizens to maintain calm, assuring them that the government would address the crisis. South Sudan’s unstable landscape is marked by the aftermath of its 2011 independence from Sudan, and the specter of renewed conflict looms large over its future.
