South Sudan’s Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) has called for an urgent investigation into a deadly attack on a United Nations helicopter during an evacuation mission in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The attack, which occurred on Friday, resulted in the death of a UN crew member and several soldiers.
A power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and first vice-president Riek Machar has been threatened in recent weeks by clashes between their allied forces in the north-eastern Upper Nile state.
The UN crew was trying to airlift soldiers after heavy clashes in Nasir between government forces and the so-called White Army, a militia that Kiir’s government has linked to forces loyal to Machar.
The incident, which occurred on March 7, has been condemned as an “abhorrent act of violence” by RJMEC, a body overseeing the implementation of South Sudan’s peace agreement.
The attack also resulted in serious injuries to multiple individuals, including members of forces aligned with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
In a strongly worded statement, RJMEC expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called for an immediate end to hostilities in Upper Nile state.
“This unfortunate and avoidable act of violence undermines the progress made over the past seven years since the signing of the peace agreement,” the commission said.
RJMEC warned that such incidents threaten to erode confidence among South Sudanese citizens, as well as the regional and international community.
Calls for De-escalation
RJMEC has urged the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions and restore calm. “We appeal to the Presidency to take all necessary actions to prevent further violence,” the commission stated.
Additionally, RJMEC has called on the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to exercise its command and control functions over all organized forces to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
The commission also emphasized the need for the National Transitional Committee (NTC) to expedite the unification and deployment of forces across the country to maintain peace.
Probe into Nasir Incident
In response to the attack, RJMEC has called on the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to conduct a verification mission to Nasir County.
The commission stressed the need for a detailed report with recommendations to prevent future violations of the permanent ceasefire.