By Spy Uganda
The increase in violence and political fighting in South Sudan is threatening the fragile peace process in the country. This was stated by Yasmine Suka, chairwoman of the UN Human Rights Commission in South Sudan, quoted by Reuters and BTA.
Earlier this month, security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir arrested two ministers and several senior military officers, allies of Vice President Riek Machar.
The arrests raised concerns about the future of the 2018 peace agreement that ended the five-year civil war between forces loyal to Kiir and Machar.
“We are witnessing a worrying regression that could erase years of hard-won progress. “Instead of fueling division and conflict, leaders must urgently refocus on the peace process, uphold the human rights of South Sudanese citizens and ensure a smooth transition to democracy,” Yasmin Suka said in a statement.
The arrests followed heavy clashes in recent weeks in the strategic northern town of Nasir between the South Sudanese army and the White Army militia, a group that President Salva Kiir’s government has linked to forces loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, a rival of the head of state.
Government spokesman Michael McWei said the arrests were made because government officials allied with Machar were in “conflict with the law.” He accused forces loyal to the vice president of collaborating with the White Army. and attacked a military garrison near the town of Nasir on March 4.
Machar’s party denied the allegations.
On Saturday, South Sudan’s intelligence agency, the National Security Service, said it had arrested and detained several people “believed to have confirmed links to the military clashes” in Nasir and another nearby town. It did not give the total number of those arrested or their identities.
On Friday, a UN helicopter was fired upon in Nasir while trying to evacuate dozens of soldiers, including a general, who were killed, the country’s government said.
