(CLO) A South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers were killed in an attack on a United Nations helicopter evacuating them from the northern town of Nasir on Friday.
The United Nations said the incident, which could deal a major blow to the already fragile peace process, was “absolutely abhorrent” and could amount to a war crime. The UN said the general who died was named as Majur Dak.
The UN team is trying to airlift troops after heavy fighting in Nasir between national forces and the White Guard militia, a group that President Salva Kiir's government says is linked to forces loyal to his rival and First Vice President Riek Machar.
General Majur Dak was among those killed in the attack in South Sudan. Photo: X/AK
South Sudan's Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that "about 27" soldiers had been killed. A UN crew member was among those killed. It was not immediately clear whether the helicopter was hit while it was in the air or whether the attack took place while it was still on the ground.
Vice President Machar's party has previously denied involvement in the recent fighting in Nasir. The head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, said the attack was "absolutely abhorrent" and could constitute a war crime under international law.
The White Guards, largely made up of armed youths from the Nuer ethnic group, fought alongside Machar's forces in the 2013-2018 civil war.
On Friday, Mr Kiir reaffirmed that the country would not return to war, but analysts have warned that escalating tensions could lead to all-out conflict.
In a statement, the United Nations called on "all parties concerned to refrain from further violence and for the country's leaders to intervene urgently to resolve tensions through dialogue and ensure that the security situation in Nasir, as well as more broadly, does not deteriorate."
South Sudan has been officially at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year war that killed some 400,000 people, but clashes between rival communities still regularly erupt.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan was established shortly after the country gained independence from Sudan in 2011. Nearly 20,000 peacekeepers from 73 countries serve there.
Hoang Hai (according to UN, UNMISS, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tuong-nam-sudan-va-hang-chuc-nguoi-thiet-mang-trong-vu-tan-cong-vao-truc-thang-lien-hop-quoc-post337560.html
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