UN calls for calm as violence flares in South Sudan

Following reports that deadly clashes in South Sudan have resulted in the deaths of civilians and wounded a peacekeeper, the UN has urged caution.

Fighting broke out between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPSF) and “armed youth” in Nasir in Upper Nile state – which borders Sudan – on February 14 and 15, the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement on Monday.

The oil-rich but impoverished country, which only gained independence in 2011, is plagued by conflict and political infighting.

The UN did not identify the armed groups that fought with the SSPSF, a national military force headed by Salva Kiir, the country’s unity government.

Following the escalating escalations in Upper Nile and Western Equatoria, #UNMISS appeals to all parties to support a peace agreement.

FULL STATEMENT: https://t.co/jh3iTJarN7#A4P #SouthSudan pic. twitter.com/KAIbDJUhAB

According to the statement, some fighters “have used heavy weaponry that has reportedly caused civilians and armed personnel to die and get hurt as well”

A UN peacekeeper on a scheduled patrol was wounded during mortar shelling, but the report provided no information on how many people were hurt.

Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of UNMISS, called for an immediate end to the violence.

I urge everyone involved to be restrained and to return to normalcy right away. Additionally, I firmly oppose any acts of violence against our peacekeepers and reiterate that they are against international law,” Haysom said.

Additionally, the UN issued a warning about “persistent tensions” between “organized forces” in Western Equatoria, on the other side of the nation. It did not give further details.

Haysom argued that South Sudan’s unified armed forces should be fully deployed in both locations.

Kiir and his vehement rival Vice President Riek Machar engaged in a vicious five-year civil war. Prior to repeatedly postponing elections, a 2018 peace agreement required the unification of the armed forces.