The German Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it would temporarily close its embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, citing renewed and escalating violence in the region. The decision comes as tensions between key political leaders threaten to unravel a fragile peace agreement.
Fragile Peace Agreement on the Brink of Collapse
In 2020, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, formed a unity government in an effort to end years of civil war. However, the agreement is now in jeopardy. This week, President Kiir dismissed the governor of Upper Nile state, where clashes have intensified between government forces and an ethnic militia allegedly allied with Machar.
The violence has raised international concerns about a potential return to full-scale conflict. "After years of fragile peace, South Sudan is once again on the brink of civil war," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated. She urged both leaders to take responsibility, saying, "President Kiir and Vice President Machar are plunging the country into a spiral of violence. They have a responsibility to stop the senseless violence and finally implement the peace agreement."
UN Expresses Concern Over Potential Relapse into Civil War
Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, echoed these concerns, warning that the country is "on the brink of relapse into civil war." The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the stability of South Sudan remains precarious.
The temporary closure of the German embassy underscores the growing unease among foreign nations regarding the security situation in South Sudan. The move reflects broader fears that the country's hard-won peace could be shattered if immediate action is not taken to de-escalate tensions.