Western powers offer mediation as UN warns South Sudan faces war risk

JUBA – Western nations have offered to mediate between South Sudan’s leaders as the United Nations warned the country is on the brink of renewed conflict, following escalating violence in Upper Nile State, including aerial bombardments and reports of civilian casualties.

The embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union delegation, expressed deep concern over the recent violence, particularly aerial bombardments in Nasir County.

They also highlighted “credible reports of civilian casualties” and the ongoing detention of senior officials in Juba without charges, exacerbating tensions within the fragile unity government.

“The Embassies of Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the Delegation of the European Union deplore the continued violence in Upper Nile State including aerial bombardment in Nasir County and credible reports of civilian casualties,” the joint statement said.

The UN Special Representative for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, echoed these concerns, warning that the country is “poised on the brink of relapse into civil war,” during a briefing to the AU Peace and Security Council on Tuesday.

He cited the recent takeover of the Nasir barracks by the White Army, the arrest of SPLM-IO officials, the deployment of foreign forces, and airstrikes on Nasir as key factors contributing to the escalating tensions.

“It requires our immediate and collective intervention to ensure that war is averted,” Haysom, stating that “hate speech is now rampant, raising concerns that the conflict could assume an ethnic dimension.”

The renewed violence follows the arrest of senior SPLM-IO officials and the subsequent escalation of violence between the White Army, an ethnic Nuer militia that was linked to the SPLM-IO during the 2013-2018 civil war.

The SPLM-IO has also raised concerns about attacks and intimidation against its members in Western Equatoria. The SSPDF has also bombed Nasir County killing around 15 civilians. Today, the army targeted two commercial vehicles after suspicions of SPLA-IO intelligence chief presence.

The Western allies emphasized the urgent need for direct dialogue between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to restore peace. They offered to facilitate these discussions, urging all South Sudanese leaders to avoid unilateral actions and reject violence as a political tool.

“We reaffirm as a matter of urgency our call that South Sudan’s leaders, including President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, meet and engage in direct dialogue to restore and maintain peace. We are prepared to facilitate their discussion,” the joint statement read.

Haysom urged the parties to “recommit to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and R-ARCSS, reinvigorating the functioning of its relevant mechanisms,” and called for the release of detained officials.

“The peace process and its mechanisms remain the key to the restoration of peace, and they are on the verge of collapse,” he said.

The statement also called on the leaders to prioritize the interests of the South Sudanese people, as the UN warned the country is facing a critical juncture.

“We further call on all South Sudan’s leaders to avoid unilateral actions, to reject the use of violence as a tool for political competition, and to put the interests of the South Sudanese people first,” the Western allies’ statement concluded.

Haysom further warned, “This region cannot afford another conflict.”