• One UN crew member killed in attack on helicopter in South Sudan.
• Approximately 27 South Sudanese soldiers, including a general, died during the evacuation attempt.
• UN officials called the attack "utterly abhorrent" and suggested it may constitute a war crime.
• The incident threatens the fragile peace established after a civil war that ended in 2018.
• Arrests of senior officials allied with Riek Machar add to the instability in the region.

A United Nations helicopter was targeted during an evacuation attempt in South Sudan, leading to the tragic death of a crew member and approximately 27 South Sudanese soldiers, including General Majur Dak. The incident occurred near the town of Nasir as the UN was trying to airlift troops amidst intense clashes between national forces and the White Army militia, which has ties to First Vice President Riek Machar's faction. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reported that the helicopter came under fire while attempting to extract soldiers following assurances of safe passage, fueling concerns about the already fragile peace process in the country. According to Al Jazeera, UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom condemned the attack as 'utterly abhorrent,' indicating the possibility of it being classified as a war crime under international law.

President Salva Kiir, facing criticism for the worsening security situation, expressed his condolences and emphasized that measures would be taken to address the crisis. He had previously assured that the rescue mission would safely evacuate General Dak and his men. The militant group involved, the White Army, which is largely comprised of youth from the Nuer ethnic group, has previously engaged in violent conflicts with Kiir's forces, which are predominantly ethnic Dinka. As reported by BBC, Information Minister Michael Makuei confirmed the total casualties from the attack but specifics about the circumstances of the shooting remain unclear.

This deadly incident has raised alarms about the state of peace in South Sudan, which has been struggling to recover since the civil war that resulted in the deaths of around 400,000 people. Recent tensions have been exacerbated by the detention of senior government officials linked to Machar, raising fears of a potential return to conflict, as highlighted by Reuters. Analysts suggest that without urgent dialogue among the conflicting parties, South Sudan could descend further into violence.

The UN, having established its mission shortly after South Sudan's independence in 2011, continues to call for restraint and the need for leaders to engage in meaningful discussions to prevent further destabilization.