The Norwegian
Minister of Foreign Affairs says it is deeply concerned about recent violence
and ongoing political unrest in South Sudan.
On March 7, a
United Nations helicopter conducting an evacuation process in Nasir, in Upper
Nile State, came under fire by the White Army militia, resulting in the killing
of a crew member and serious injuries to two others.
In addition,
several members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), including
an injured general, were killed during the attempt by the United Nations
Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to extract them from the area, which was
requested by all parties.
These have
caused tensions, and the international community feels that the conflict could
derail the peace deal unless addressed immediately.
“I am deeply
concerned by the recent violence and ongoing political unrest in South Sudan.
The attack on a UN helicopter in Nasir, which claimed the lives of South
Sudanese soldiers and UN personnel, is alarming,” says Espen Barth Eide in a press
release statement.
Media reports
suggest that several officials from the main opposition party, SPLM-IO, which has
been linked to the White Army, have been detained as a result of the Nasir
clashes.
The
detentions of senior leaders and military officials have heightened fears of
renewed conflict, jeopardizing the fragile peace established with the 2018
Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of
South Sudan.
“I urge all
parties to exercise restraint, respect international humanitarian law, and
engage in inclusive dialogue to prevent further violence. Ensuring the safety
of civilians and safe, rapid, and unimpeded access for humanitarian actors is
paramount,” said Eide.
Norway
commends the UN peacekeeping troops and calls on all parties to continue their
cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Norway continues to
stand with the people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peace, stability, and a
secure future.
Similarly, on March 12, 2025, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development
(IGAD) in its 43rd Extraordinary Summit called for an immediate ceasefire and
renewed dialogue among conflicting parties in South Sudan as violence threatens
to destabilize the nation further.
