UN peacekeepers report deadly clashes in South Sudan

The United Nations on Tuesday reported deadly clashes in northern South Sudan which killed civilians and left a peacekeeper wounded.

The oil-rich but impoverished nation, which only achieved independence in 2011, is plagued by instability with frequent clashes and political infighting.

Fighting broke out between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPSF) and “armed youth” in Nassir in Upper Nile state—which borders Sudan — on February 14 and 15, the UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement.

It did not identify the armed groups clashing with the SSPSF, a national military force led by President Salva Kiir, head of the country’s unity government.

The statement said some fighters used “heavy weaponry which has, reportedly, resulted in deaths and injuries to civilians as well as armed personnel”.

It did not give any details on the number of people hurt, but added that a UN peacekeeper on a scheduled patrol was wounded during mortar shelling.

Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, urged restraint and condemned violence towards the UN peacekeepers.

The UN statement also warned of “persistent tensions” in Western Equatoria — on the other side of the country — between “organised forces”. It did not give details.

Haysom said that the situation in both locations underscored the need for the full deployment of South Sudan’s unified armed forces.

The country endured a vicious five-year civil war between Kiir and his bitter rival, Vice-President Riek Machar.

A 2018 peace deal required the unification of armed forces, ahead of repeatedly delayed elections.

UNMISS has said the unification of the army has yet to be achieved.