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Crew member killed in South Sudan as militia attack UN evacuation helicopter

Some of the forty troop members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in opposition (SPLA/M-IO) take a pick up truck after landing in a UN plane at Juba airport on March 28, 2016, as part of the peace agreement signed between rebel forces and the Government in August 2015. AFP PHOTO | ALBERT GONZALEZ FARRAN

What you need to know:

  • A United Nations helicopter carrying out an evacuation mission in Nasir, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, was attacked, killing one crew member and injuring two others.
  • The UN mission (UNMISS) condemned the attack, calling it a possible war crime and calling for an investigation to hold those responsible to account.
  • The incident comes amid escalating tensions between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army militia, threatening the fragile peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.

A crew member of a  United Nations helicopter conducting an evacuation mission in Nasir, Upper Nile State, in South Sudan, died and two others were injured after the team came under attack on Friday by a local militia.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the helicopter was attempting to extract some stranded officials from the area.

“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,” UNMISS stated, referring to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.

The peacekeeping mission condemned the attack on UN personnel, calling it "utterly abhorrent" and warning that it may constitute a war crime under international law.

Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS said the mission was calling for an investigation to determine those responsible and hold them accountable. One of those due to be rescued was a senior commander in the SSPDF. His whereabouts were unknown after the incident.

The attack came days after several top government officials aligned to the First Vice President Riek Machar were arrested for having a hand in an uprising in Upper Nile, said to be caused by a militia called White Army. UNMISS did not confirm if the attack was by the militia mostly composed of youth from the Nuer ethnic group in the eastern region of South Sudan.

On Friday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), Machar’s party, reported that Stephen Par Kuol, the National Minister of Peace-Building and Secretary-General of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), who had been detained along with three staff members from his office by the National Security Service, had been freed.

However, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang and SSPDF Deputy Chief of Staff Gen Duom Lap remain in detention.

In Malakal town, there are growing fears of an attack from the White Army, which is reportedly targeting the capture of town—the state capital of Upper Nile.

The grapevine in Juba also suggested the SSPDF may retaliate following the killing of its general.

The Ministry of Information in South Sudan said that President Salva Kiir was scheduled to address the nation later on Friday.

The latest conflict in Upper Nile State erupted days ago between the SSPDF and the White Army, affiliated with opposition leader Dr Riek Machar.

On Tuesday evening, the SPLM-IO raised alarm over a heavy deployment of SSPDF forces around Dr Machar’s residence, escalating fears about the fragility of the peace agreement.

The White Army has now claimed control of the strategic town of Nasir after intense fighting with government forces. Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border, has long been a flashpoint for conflict. The White Army, known for its history of ethnic violence, has played a significant role in past clashes and has frequently opposed government forces.

The renewed fighting has raised concerns about escalating instability in Upper Nile, a state that has remained volatile since 2013. Tensions escalated after the government announced plans to replace long-standing troops with newly deployed forces.

Local armed youth fear the incoming troops may target civilians or launch a disarmament campaign. In response, community leaders have rejected the government’s deployment and are calling for a unified force instead.