Latest news with #Unmiss
The Guardian
08-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
South Sudan general among dozens killed in attack on UN helicopter
A South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers have been killed after a United Nations helicopter trying to evacuate them from the northern town of Nasir came under attack, the government has said. The UN said Friday's incident, which could deal a blow to an already fragile peace process, was 'utterly abhorrent' and a possible war crime. A power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and first vice-president Riek Machar has been threatened in recent weeks by clashes between their allied forces in the north-eastern Upper Nile state. The UN crew was trying to airlift soldiers after heavy clashes in Nasir between national forces and the so-called White Army, a militia that Kiir's government has linked to forces loyal to Machar, his bitter rival. In a national address announcing the deaths of Gen Majur Dak and other soldiers, Kiir said Machar had assured him and the UN representative that the general would be safe and that the rescue mission should fly to Nasir to evacuate him and his men. Kiir urged citizens to remain calm, stating: 'I have said it time and again that our country will not go back to war. Let no one take law into their hands. 'The government which I lead will handle this crisis. We will remain steadfast in the path of peace,' he added. The information minister, Michael Makuei, said 'approximately 27' troops were killed. A UN crew member was among the dead. It was not immediately clear if the helicopter was hit as it was in the air or if the attack took place while it was still on the ground. South Sudan, the world's youngest country, ended a five-year civil war in 2018 with a power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar. But Kiir's allies have accused Machar's forces of fomenting unrest in Nasir county, in league with the White Army, a loose band of armed youths in the region from the same ethnic Nuer community as the vice-president. Machar's spokesperson Puok Both Baluang declined to comment on the attack. Machar's party has previously denied involvement in the recent fighting in Nasir. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), Nicholas Haysom, said the attack was 'utterly abhorrent' and might constitute a war crime under international law. 'We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to extract, particularly when assurances of safe passage had been received. Unmiss urges an investigation to determine those responsible and hold them accountable,' he said. Machar's spokesperson said earlier this week that security forces had arrested the petroleum minister, the peacebuilding minister, the deputy head of the army and other senior military officials allied with Machar, potentially jeopardising the 2018 peace deal that ended a civil war between Kiir's and Machar's forces. The government has not commented on the detentions and all the detained officials, apart from the peacebuilding minister, remain in custody or under house arrest, according to Machar's spokesperson. The White Army fought alongside Machar's forces in the 2013-18 civil war that pitted them against predominantly ethnic Dinka troops loyal to Kiir. Analysts have warned that the escalating tensions could lead to a full-blown conflict. 'South Sudan is slipping rapidly toward full-blown war,' said the International Crisis Group's Horn of Africa director, Alan Boswell. He urged the UN to prepare peacekeepers to save civilian lives, adding: 'We fear large-scale ethnic massacres if the situation is not soon contained.' In a statement, the UN urged 'all actors to refrain from further violence and for the country's leaders to urgently intervene to resolve tensions through dialogue and ensure that the security situation in Nasir, and more broadly, does not deteriorate'. The UN mission in South Sudan was established soon after the country won independence from Sudan in 2011. Almost 20,000 peacekeepers from 73 countries serve in it. Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this story
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
27 soldiers die afta gunmen shoot down UN helicopters for South Sudan
Plenty pipo don die for South Sudan afta one attempt by di UN to evacuate members of di national army come under fire, di UN confam. One crew member die wen dem shoot at one UN helicopter, one statement from dia mission for South Sudan, Unmiss, tok. Di statement add say one injured South Sudanese general plus several oda troops die during di evacuation attempt for Upper Nile state. Di UN tok say di attack on dia helicopter "fit constitute a war crime". South Sudan President Salva Kiir later say one second helicopter wey manage to take off afta di attack, crash land, and kill evri body wey dey on board. But Unmiss bin tok say both dia aircraft bin land safely for Malakal. Di Information Minister, Michael Makuei wey Reuters news agency quote tok say twenty-seven South Sudanese in total na im die. Weeks of fighting for Upper Nile don threaten di already fragile peace deal between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. For 2013, di I no go gree between di two of dem bin spark five-year civil war, wey don lead to di death of 400,000 pipo and force 2.5 million pipo to comot dia homes. Dem sign peace agreement for 2018 but di situation no calm down ever since. Di ongoing fighting for Upper Nile na between di armed forces and di White Army, one ethnic militia wey bin collabo wit Machar during di war. In agreement wit di White Army and South Sudan army, Unmiss dey carry wounded troops from di conflict zone comot. Unmiss head Nicholas Haysom tok for statement say di attack on dia mission personnel dey "extremely abhorrent and e fit constitute a war crime under international law. We deeply regret di tragic loss of our colleague and express our sincere condolences to im loved ones. "We also regret di killing of those wey dey try to extract, particularly wen we don receive assurances of safe passage." President Kiir tok say di army general wey die for di attack na Gen Majur Dak, wey lead di forces wey station for Nasir, one region for Upper Nile. Alongside di fighting, authorities don make some arrests wey dey spark concerns say South Sudan fit see a return to war. A number of Machar allies, wey include di oil minister and one high-ranking army general, bin dey detained earlier dis week. Afta Friday attack, Kirr urge di nation to "remain calm". "I don tok am time and again, say our kontri no go, go back to war. Make no-one take di law into dia own hands. Di goment, wey I dey lead, go handle dis crisis," e tok. South Sudan na di world newest nation, afta dem comot from Sudan for 2011.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Several dead after UN helicopter shot at in South Sudan
Several people have died in South Sudan after an attempt by the UN to evacuate members of the national army came under fire, the UN has said. One crew member died when a UN helicopter was shot at, a statement from its mission in South Sudan, Unmiss, said. It added that an injured South Sudanese general and several other troops were also killed during the evacuation attempt in Upper Nile state. South Sudan President Salva Kiir later said a second helicopter managed to take off after the attack, only to crash land, killing all on board. But Unmiss has denied this. Twenty-seven South Sudanese soldiers were killed in total, Information Minister Michael Makuei is quoted by Reuters as saying. The UN has not confirmed details about a second helicopter, but it did say the attack on the first aircraft "may constitute a war crime". Weeks of fighting in Upper Nile has threatened an already fragile peace deal between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar. In 2013, a rift between the pair sparked a five-year civil war, during which 400,000 people were killed and 2.5 million forced from their homes. A peace agreement was signed in 2018 but the situation has been fraught ever since. The ongoing fighting in Upper Nile is between the armed forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia that was allied with Machar during the war. In agreement with the White Army and South Sudan's army, Unmiss has been evacuating wounded troops from the conflict zone. Unmiss head Nicholas Haysom said in a statement that the attack on his mission's personnel was "utterly abhorrent and may constitute a war crime under international law. We deeply regret the tragic loss of our colleague and express our sincere condolences to his loved ones. "We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to extract, particularly when assurances of safe passage had been received." President Kiir said the army general who died in the attack was Gen Majur Dak, who led the forces stationed in Nasir, a region in Upper Nile. Alongside the fighting, a slew of arrests has sparked concerns that South Sudan may see a return to war. A number of Machar's allies, including the oil minister and a high-ranking army general, were detained earlier this week. After Friday's attack, Kirr urged the nation to "remain calm". "I have said time and again, that our country would not go back to war. Let no-one take the law into their own hands. The government, which I lead, will handle this crisis," he said. South Sudan is the world's newest nation, after seceding from Sudan in 2011. Mystery in South Sudan after sacked spy boss mired in gun battle Curfew and deaths in South Sudan after revenge attacks on Sudanese Salva Kiir: South Sudan's president in a cowboy hat Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
07-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
South Sudan: UN evacuation attempt disrupted by deadly shooting
Several people have died in South Sudan after an attempt by the UN to evacuate members of the national army came under fire, the UN has crew member died when a UN helicopter was shot at, a statement from its mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) said. It added that an injured South Sudanese general and several other troops were also killed during the evacuation attempt in the Upper Nile Sudan President Salva Kiir said that a second UN helicopter managed to take off after the attack, only to crash land, killing all passengers on UN has not confirmed Kiir's comments, but it did say the attack on the first helicopter "may constitute a war crime". Weeks of fighting in Upper Nile has threatened an already fragile peace deal between President Kiir and Vice-President Riek 2013, a rift between the pair sparked a five-year civil war, during which 400,000 people were killed and 2.5 million forced from their homes.A peace agreement was signed in 2018 but the situation has been fraught ever ongoing fighting in Upper Nile is between the armed forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia that was allied with Machar during the agreement with the White Army and South Sudan's army, Unmiss has been evacuating wounded troops from the conflict head Nicholas Haysom said in a statement that the attack on his mission's personnel was "utterly abhorrent and may constitute a war crime under international law. We deeply regret the tragic loss of our colleague and express our sincere condolences to his loved ones."We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to extract, particularly when assurances of safe passage had been received."President Kiir said the army general who died in the attack was Gen Majur Dak, who led the forces stationed in Nasir, a region in Upper the fighting, a slew of arrests has sparked concerns that South Sudan may see a return to war.A number of Machar's allies, including the oil minister and a high-ranking army general, were detained earlier this Friday's attack, Kirr urged the nation to "remain calm"."I have said time and again, that our country would not go back to war. Let no-one take the law into their own hands. The government, which I lead, will handle this crisis," he Sudan is the world's newest nation, after seceding from Sudan in 2011. You may also be interested in: Mystery in South Sudan after sacked spy boss mired in gun battleCurfew and deaths in South Sudan after revenge attacks on SudaneseSalva Kiir: South Sudan's president in a cowboy hat Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
