‘Alarming regression’ in path to peace in South Sudan, UN commission warns

Sub : IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has warned of an “alarming regression” in the country’s peace process due to recent clashes in the northeast.
The violence, primarily between security forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and an armed group allegedly linked to Vice President Riek Machar, threatens the fragile power-sharing agreement reached in 2018. This agreement was meant to end the civil war but has seen little progress.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has played a role in monitoring peace efforts, providing humanitarian assistance, and attempting to mediate between the warring factions.

Background:

South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, gained independence in 2011. However, the country descended into a devastating civil war by 2013, resulting in more than 400,000 deaths and over 1 million displaced persons.
South Sudan’s conflict is deeply rooted in ethnic divisions and political struggles for power between the Dinka (Kiir’s group) and Nuer (Machar’s group).

Peace Agreement:

In 2018, both sides signed the Revitalised Agreement on Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The agreement aimed to establish peace by:
- Uniting the warring factions under a single army.
- Drafting a new constitution.
- Preparing for general elections and conducting a census.
- Disarming other armed groups.
However, despite the peace deal, the implementation of these reforms has been sluggish, and tensions persist between the two leaders and their respective factions.

Recent Clashes and Escalating Violence:

February 2025 saw violence erupt in Nasir County in Upper Nile State between Sudanese armed forces and a youth militia. The violence is believed to have been triggered by rumours of forced disarmament.
Armed clashes involving heavy weaponry have spread to other regions, including Western Equatoria.
President Kiir’s government has accused Riek Machar’s party, the SPLM-IO, of supporting the violence. Specifically, the White Army, a Nuer militia, was allegedly working with Machar’s faction.

About South Sudan:

South Sudan is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa.
It gained independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, after decades of civil war and struggles for autonomy.
The country is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, and the Central African Republic to the west.
The country is home to more than 60 different ethnic groups, with the largest groups being the Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk.