The diplomats fuether called for an end to unilateral actions, and urged all South Sudanese leaders to reject violence as a political tool and prioritize the needs of their people.

By Aguok Chok

The diplomat mission in Juba comprising Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States has offered to provide direct dialogue between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to de-escalate the intension in the country.

“We urge leaders to meet urgently,” said Western diplomats, condemning the violence in Upper Nile State and offering to mediate peace talks.

The statement follows reports of aerial bombardments in Nasir County that have resulted in casualties and displacement.

“We urge President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar to meet and engage in direct discussions to restore peace,” the statement read, adding: “We stand ready to facilitate their talks.”

The diplomats and the European Union Commission delegation noted the reports of some SSPDF survivors from the Nasir garrison who are unable to return to safe locations, but also expressed concerns over the continued detention of senior officials in Juba without charges.

They called for an end to unilateral actions, and urged all South Sudanese leaders to reject violence as a political tool and prioritize the needs of their people.

“The future of South Sudan depends on peace,” the diplomats emphasized.

The involvement of Western nations in South Sudan’s peace efforts dates back to the country’s struggle to independence.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway—known as the Troika played a critical role in brokering the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which led to South Sudan’s secession from Sudan.

Since then, these nations, along with the European Union and other allies, have been active in diplomatic efforts to maintain stability.

Also, they aided the peace talks that resulted to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) that ended the country’s five years brutal civil war.

The agreement led to the formation of the unity government in 2020, that reunited President Salva Kiir and his former rival Dr. Riek Machar.

Over the past few months, there have been tension in regions of South Sudan, including Western Equatoria, Western Bhar el Ghazal and Upper Nile State, where the national army, SSPDF and the white army have clashed, leading to displacements and casualties.

On January 7, a United Nations helicopter conducting an evacuation process in Nasir, in Upper Nile State, came under attack, resulting in the killing of a crew member and serious injuries to two others.

several members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), including an injured General, were killed during the attempt by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to extract them from the area, which was made at the request of all parties.

The evacuation was part of UNMISS’ efforts to help prevent violence in Nasir and de-escalate political tensions, following recent clashes between the SSPDF and armed youth which caused significant casualties and civilian displacement.

A military operation involving the national army would subsequently be employed in the region.

Meanwhile, as tension simmer in the region, Minister of Information and Government Spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueath confirmed the presence of the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in South Sudan, which he justified was to “protect the people, the government, and the territorial integrity,” being part of a longstanding military pact between Uganda and South Sudan.