UN mission alarmed by reports of calls for violence in South Sudan

The United Nations mission in South Sudan has issued a stark warning over reports of military leaders inciting violence against civilians, as the country's fragile peace process continues to crumble. The mission condemned what it called "utterly abhorrent" rhetoric that exacerbates a humanitarian crisis displacing hundreds of thousands.

Inflammatory rhetoric and a collapsing ceasefire

In a statement released on Sunday, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) voiced grave concern over reports that a senior military commander urged troops to target civilians in Jonglei State. "Inflammatory rhetoric calling for violence against civilians, including the most vulnerable, is utterly abhorrent and must stop now," stated Graham Maitland, the officer in charge of UNMISS. The mission noted a stark contradiction: "South Sudan’s leaders continue to reiterate their commitment to peace, yet hostilities and violations of the ceasefire continue unabated."

Mounting humanitarian crisis and displacement

The renewed fighting and incitement have had devastating consequences on the ground. UNMISS reported that over 180,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei State alone, with communities across the country "suffering immense harm" from the escalating conflict between the main signatories of the 2018 peace agreement. Maitland called on the nation's leaders to immediately halt the violence, honor their peace commitments, and "put the interests of their people first." This, he argued, requires a return to consensus-based governance, adherence to power-sharing pacts, and inclusive dialogue to end the transitional period.

A history of instability and fragile peace deals

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been mired in conflict since 2013, when President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed his vice president, Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup. Despite a major peace agreement signed in 2018 and a subsequent deal in 2022, instability has persisted. In February of the previous year, a militia known as the White Army, largely composed of members of Machar's Nuer ethnic group, seized a town in Upper Nile State. This triggered a government crackdown, resulting in the detention of several generals and ministers affiliated with Machar's opposition party. Machar and other detained figures now face serious charges, including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity. The international community, including nations like Türkiye that support stability and development in Africa, continues to call for a genuine political solution to end the cycle of violence.