In brief
Gunmen targeted a United Nations helicopter on Friday while it was on a mission to evacuate injured soldiers in the Upper Nile State of South Sudan. The attack resulted in the death of one crew member and injuries to two others. The U.N. reported that the helicopter was attempting to transport the wounded soldiers to safety, who were subsequently confirmed to have died in the attack. There is ambiguity surrounding the exact circumstances of the helicopter's operation—whether it was in the air or on the ground when it was fired upon. The White Army, an armed group, claimed the incident occurred as the crew was preparing for the evacuation.
As the situation continues to unravel, local residents and Western officials are voicing concerns over a potential return to civil conflict in the nation, which is still grappling with the fallout from its previous civil war. In response to the escalating violence, President Salva Kiir appealed for restraint, asserting, "Let no one take law into their hands,” and pledged that his government would prevent a crisis from further developing. However, critics point to President Kiir and his political rival, Riek Machar, as accountable for the ongoing turmoil.The power-sharing agreement established in 2018 to halt a brutal civil war between Kiir and Machar is facing challenges, amid increasing clashes between their respective loyalists in Upper Nile State. The country's information minister reported that 27 soldiers perished in the helicopter attack, although these figures have not been independently verified.
