South Sudan on the Brink: UN Warns of Renewed Civil War

South Sudan is facing the risk of sliding back into civil war, as tensions rise between President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar. Despite significant international efforts, peace remains fragile due to ongoing ethnic divisions, misinformation, and military confrontations in the north.

South Sudan teeters precariously on the brink of a renewed civil war, as rising political tensions and stalled peace efforts generate deep international concern. The latest bid to stabilize the world's youngest nation appears ever more tenuous following the government's abrupt postponement of a key peace initiative.

Nicolas Haysom, a top UN official in South Sudan, described the situation as 'dire,' stressing that the future hinges on President Salva Kiir and his erstwhile adversary turned vice president, Riek Machar, placing national interests above personal rivalries. The 2018 peace accord, which unified Kiir and Machar in government, remains vulnerable as civilian trust erodes with each passing conflict.

The conflict is exacerbated by skirmishes up north between government troops and the rebel militia known as the White Army, allegedly aligned with Machar, and further deepened by widespread misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. Efforts for peace, including the UN's shuttle diplomacy, hinge on the leaders' commitment to dialogue and adherence to the 2018 agreement.

(With inputs from agencies.)