U.N. Helicopter Assault in South Sudan Raises Alarm Amid Tensions

A helicopter operated by the United Nations was ambushed in South Sudan, escalating fears that the nation is on the brink of spilling into civil conflict.

 

On March 7, 2025, a United Nations helicopter on a vital evacuation mission came under fire in Upper Nile State of South Sudan, resulting in the loss of one crew member's life and injuries to two others. The UN stated that the helicopter was attempting to airlift wounded soldiers when it faced gunfire, leading to the deaths of the soldiers it aimed to rescue. An armed group known as the White Army claimed responsibility, suggesting that the attack occurred as the soldiers attempted to board the helicopter.

This incident comes after a period of heightened political strife in South Sudan, the youngest nation in the world. There are escalating concerns among the populace and international observers regarding a possible plunge back into full-scale civil war.

In a bid to calm the situation, President Salva Kiir addressed the nation, urging restraint and ensuring the government would maintain control. “Let no one take law into their hands,” he declared. However, critics have pointed to Kiir and opposing leaders as significant contributors to the ongoing instability.

The fragile power-sharing agreement that ended a devastating civil conflict in 2018 between President Kiir and his first vice president, Riek Machar, is now under severe stress. In recent weeks, clashes between their respective factions in Upper Nile State have intensified.

South Sudan's information minister has reported that 27 soldiers died in the helicopter assault, although this figure was not independently verified. This alarming development underlines the precarious situation in South Sudan and the urgency for international intervention to prevent a resurgence of violence.