South Sudan is on the brink of another civil war after a series of escalating tensions between the government and rebels. The UN envoy for South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, has warned that the country’s situation is “dire” due to a lack of trust between President Salva Kiir and his rival-turned-vice president Riek Machar.
The two leaders are supposed to work together in a government of national unity, but their relationship remains strained. The 2018 peace agreement aimed to bring stability and democracy to the country, but it has been repeatedly postponed due to disagreements over elections.
The latest tensions emerged from fighting between government troops and a rebel militia known as the White Army, which is believed to be allied with Machar. The situation has worsened in recent days, with reports of clashes in Upper Nile state and arrests of Machar’s allies.
Haysom urged Kiir and Machar to engage in dialogue to resolve their differences and restore peace. He warned that a relapse into civil war would lead to the same tragic consequences as the previous conflict, which killed over 400,000 people.
The UN is engaging in intense shuttle diplomacy with international partners to try to prevent another civil war. The African Union has also gotten involved, calling for Kiir and Machar to meet to resolve their differences.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/south-sudan-teetering-edge-renewed-civil-war-envoy-120117134