![UN SRSG and Head of UNMISS Nicholas Haysom speaking to reporters during a press conference in Juba on Thursday, 3 June 2021. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Haysom.jpg?resize=1024%2C681&quality=89&ssl=1)
Kiir, in a national address yesterday, asserted that a UN helicopter, which had been involved in evacuating soldiers following recent clashes in Nasir, crashed in Malakal, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and UN crew members.
The clashes in Nasir involved the White Army, a local armed youth group, which seized control of the town after fighting with the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Two UN helicopters were dispatched to evacuate the SSPDF brigade commander, Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak, but gunfire during the boarding process reportedly led to the deaths of the commander, 27 others, and a UN crew member.
However, UNMISS, in a statement released on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, clarified that both UN helicopters involved in the operation landed safely in Malakal.
“UNMISS confirms that both UN helicopters landed safely in Malakal, Upper Nile state. The two injured crew are currently in a stable situation, receiving medical care,” the statement said.
The UN mission’s statement directly contradicts Kiir’s account, which claimed the helicopter crash-landed in Malakal, causing fatalities.
The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in Nasir, where the White Army’s takeover followed days of conflict with government forces.
The UN’s involvement in evacuating personnel underscores the volatile security situation in the region.
