Nasir, South Sudan| A United Nations helicopter on a mission to evacuate South Sudanese troops came under deadly attack on Friday, resulting in the deaths of Major General Majur Dak, a UN crew member, and at least 27 soldiers.
The assault, which occurred in Nasir, Upper Nile State, has intensified fears of renewed conflict in the fragile nation and threatens to derail South Sudan’s already unstable peace process.
Attack on UN Evacuation Mission
The UN aircraft was dispatched to extract General Dak and his men after violent clashes erupted between national forces and the White Army, a militia largely composed of armed Nuer youth with historical ties to opposition leader Riek Machar.
The circumstances of the attack remain unclear, with conflicting reports on whether the helicopter was targeted while airborne or after landing.
The White Army had reportedly seized control of a military barracks in Nasir following heavy fighting with government troops.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir confirmed the casualties and described the attack as a blatant act of aggression that could have dire consequences for national stability.
Rising Political and Ethnic Tensions
The attack has inflamed tensions between Kiir’s ruling faction and Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), further straining the 2018 peace agreement that ended South Sudan’s brutal five-year civil war.
Kiir stated that Machar had previously assured him of the general’s safety, raising suspicions about SPLM-IO’s potential involvement.
However, Machar’s party denied any role in the attack and distanced itself from the White Army’s actions.
The government responded with a security crackdown, arresting several prominent SPLM-IO figures in Juba, including Deputy SSPDF Chief Gabriel Duop Lam and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang.
These arrests have sparked fears of retaliatory violence and deepened political divisions.
International Condemnation and Calls for Investigation
The United Nations and international leaders swiftly condemned the attack. Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), labeled the assault “utterly abhorrent” and a possible war crime, calling for an independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable.
The UN has urged both Kiir and Machar to de-escalate tensions and recommit to peaceful dialogue.
Despite the 2018 agreement, sporadic clashes and inter-ethnic violence persist, exacerbating insecurity in the world’s youngest nation.
Fears of Renewed Conflict
While President Kiir reassured citizens that South Sudan would not return to full-scale war, analysts warn that escalating violence and political mistrust could reignite widespread conflict.
The White Army has long been an unpredictable force in South Sudan’s security landscape, often mobilizing independently of political leaders.
The UN, which has maintained a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan since the country gained independence in 2011, continues to push for negotiations to prevent further bloodshed.
UNMISS, comprising nearly 20,000 peacekeepers from 73 nations, remains one of the largest UN operations worldwide.
Uncertain Path Forward
The attack on the UN helicopter underscores South Sudan’s ongoing security challenges and the fragility of its peace process.
With political alliances shifting and violence flaring up in different regions, the country’s stability remains precarious.
As investigations proceed, the international community will be watching closely to see whether South Sudan’s leaders can contain the crisis or if the nation is on the brink of another devastating conflict.
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