A South Sudanese general and at least 27 soldiers were killed on Friday when a United Nations helicopter evacuating them from the northern town of Nasir came under attack, the government confirmed.
The incident, which also claimed the life of a UN crew member, has been condemned as “utterly abhorrent” by the United Nations, which warned it could amount to a war crime.
Attack on UN Mission
The helicopter was attempting to airlift government troops following intense clashes in Nasir between national forces and the White Army militia—a group linked by President Salva Kiir’s government to First Vice President Riek Machar’s forces.
President Kiir, in a national address, announced the death of General Majur Dak and his men. He stated that Machar had assured both the government and the UN that the evacuation mission would be safe. However, the helicopter came under fire as it attempted the extraction.
It remains unclear whether the aircraft was hit mid-air or attacked while still on the ground.
Rising Tensions in Fragile Peace
Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that around 27 troops were killed in the attack. Machar’s spokesman, Puok Both Baluang, declined to comment.
Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), called the attack a potential war crime under international law.
“We deeply regret the loss of those we sought to rescue, especially given prior assurances of safe passage. UNMISS urges a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable,” Haysom said in a statement.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions. Earlier this week, Machar’s camp reported that security forces had arrested the petroleum minister, the peacebuilding minister, the deputy head of the army, and other key military officials aligned with Machar. The detentions threaten to destabilize the 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan’s brutal civil war.
Fears of Renewed Conflict
The White Army, a militia made up largely of young fighters from the Nuer ethnic group, fought alongside Machar’s forces during the 2013-2018 civil war against President Kiir’s predominantly Dinka-led troops.
Despite the rising violence, Kiir on Friday reiterated that South Sudan would not return to war. However, analysts warn that growing hostilities could spiral into a larger conflict.
The UN has urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through dialogue.
Although the 2018 peace agreement formally ended South Sudan’s five-year war—during which an estimated 400,000 people were killed—violence between rival factions remains a persistent threat.
The UN mission, which has operated in South Sudan since its independence in 2011, currently has nearly 20,000 peacekeepers deployed across the country.
