They came for us, to take our shelters and kill us’: how violence returned to a shattered South Sudan
The recent airstrike in the outskirts of the capital, Juba, was a stark reminder of the fragility of the peace that has been so delicately maintained since the signing of the peace agreement in 2018. The attack on an opposition base, just 15km from the city, sent shockwaves through the country, prompting fears that the political and security situation in South Sudan is rapidly deteriorating.
In the north-eastern state of Upper Nile, the situation is equally dire. The White Army, a youth militia associated with the opposition, launched a deadly attack on a government army base in Nasir, resulting in the death of the base commander and several others. The government’s crackdown on opposition figures in Juba only added fuel to the fire, further exacerbating tensions and pushing the country closer to the brink of all-out conflict.
The people of South Sudan, who have already endured so much suffering and loss, now find themselves once again caught in the crossfire of political power struggles and ethnic tensions. As homes are destroyed, lives are lost, and families are torn apart, the international community must not turn a blind eye to the plight of the South Sudanese people.
It is imperative that all parties involved in the conflict come to the negotiating table and find a peaceful resolution to the crisis before it spirals further out of control. The future of South Sudan hangs in the balance, and the world cannot afford to let another wave of violence consume this already war-torn nation.
As the sun sets on another day of bloodshed and chaos in South Sudan, the words of Nicholas Haysom, the head of Unmiss, ring true: the country is indeed teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war. It is up to all of us to ensure that this devastating outcome is avoided at all costs. We must stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and demand an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued their nation for far too
Ghanaflare.com
