New York: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has raised alarm over the deteriorating peace situation in South Sudan, urging its leaders to end hostilities and prioritize their citizens.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Guterres did not hold back in his assessment, comparing the current unrest to the devastating civil wars of 2013 and 2016 that claimed 400,000 lives.
The fragile peace agreement, established in 2018 to halt five years of bloodshed, is now in jeopardy after First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in Juba on Wednesday. His detainment effectively nullifies the accord, which sought to stabilize the country by bringing Machar and President Salva Kiir into a shared government.
Further escalating tensions, the information minister accused Machar on Friday of plotting an armed rebellion against the administration.
"The people of South Sudan, one of the world's youngest and poorest nations, are now caught in a dire situation," Guterres warned. He highlighted multiple crises, including political turmoil, economic collapse, a humanitarian catastrophe, mass displacement, and a worsening security environment.
He also expressed concern over reports of ethnic and political targeting by security forces and the rapid spread of misinformation on social media, warning that such factors could trigger even greater violence.
The UN Mission in South Sudan is intensifying efforts to de-escalate tensions by engaging all parties and strengthening civilian protections, Guterres added.
