South Sudan peace deal "falls apart", risk of civil war looms

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared on March 28 (New York time) that the peace agreement in South Sudan is "falling apart", and called on the country's leaders to lay down their arms and put the entire South Sudanese people first.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the situation in South Sudan, warning that the country is on the brink of civil war. (Source: Reuters)

"Frankly, what we are witnessing is worryingly similar to the civil wars of 2013 and 2016, which killed 400,000 people," Mr. Guterres told reporters.

Earlier, on March 27, UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Mr. Guterres was extremely concerned about the escalating situation in South Sudan, warning that the country was on the brink of civil war.

First Vice President Riek Machar has been under house arrest in the capital Juba since March 26, a move that effectively nullifies the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war and brought Machar and President Salva Kiir into a fragile coalition government.

On the same day, March 28, the European Union (EU) called on South Sudan President Salva Kiir to reverse the decision and reduce tensions after the arrest of his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, raised concerns that the country was on the brink of civil war.

The European Commission spokesman added that due to the deteriorating security situation, the bloc would "temporarily scale back" the presence of EU staff in South Sudan.

Meanwhile, on March 27, the British government advised its citizens to leave South Sudan, after rising security tensions put the country at risk of a new civil war. In its travel advisory, the British Foreign Office said: "If you are in South Sudan and it is safe to do so, you should leave now." The ministry also advised British citizens not to travel to South Sudan due to the risk of armed conflict.

On March 27, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for East Africa called on South Sudan to exercise "maximum restraint" following the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar. In a statement, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu stressed: "All signatories to the 2018 peace agreement in South Sudan must "exercise maximum restraint, prioritize dialogue and resolve differences through peaceful and comprehensive means."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-thu-ky-lhq-thoa-thuan-hoa-binh-nam-sudan-tan-tanh-nguy-co-noi-chien-can-ke-309226.html