South Sudan’s ceasefire monitors have warned that ongoing violations of the truce in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, could plunge the country into a full-scale conflict unless urgent action is taken.
The warning was issued during the 52nd Board Meeting of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) in Juba on Thursday.
Maj Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, Chairperson of the ceasefire monitoring body, urged all parties to the peace agreement to engage in dialogue to ease tensions. “Rather than seizing the opportunity for dialogue and compromise, the situation in Nasir, Upper Nile State, has become a hotspot where political conflict risks escalating into a full-blown armed conflict,” Gen Gelaw said.
He added, “CTSAMVM strongly urges the signatory parties to step away from the path of violence, respect the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), and seek peace for all across the country.”
The recent clashes in Nasir, coupled with the government’s confirmation of deploying Ugandan troops, have raised concerns among stakeholders to the peace agreement.
“In the wake of the Nasir incident, a series of arrests targeting high-ranking government officials and general officers in Juba followed, along with confirmation of foreign troop deployment by the South Sudan Minister of Information. These activities have caused worry among many stakeholders of the R-ARCSS,” Gen Gelaw noted.
He called on all parties to exercise restraint during this volatile period and expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
“CTSAMVM urges the signatory parties involved to exercise the highest level of restraint during this volatile period and extends its condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives. We again urge for a level playing field for all actors, founded on mutual trust. Compromise and dialogue should be the way forward,” he said.
Gen Gelaw also called for an immediate end to hostilities and urged all parties to ensure calm is restored in the affected areas.
The warning comes amid growing fears that the fragile peace agreement in South Sudan, which has endured years of conflict, could unravel if tensions in Nasir are not swiftly addressed.