UN Fears War as Barrel Bombs Dropped in South Sudan

President Salva Kiir and his rival Vice-President Riek Machar agreed in August 2018 to end a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people. But over the last seven years their relationship has become increasingly strained amid ethnic tensions and sporadic violence. In early March, several of Machar’s most senior allies were arrested by security forces, which his allies called a “grave violation” of the peace deal. This followed the clashes between the military and the White Army, which fought alongside Machar during the civil war that erupted in 2013 – not long after the country had gained its independence from Sudan. “In retaliation, communities across Upper Nile are being subjected to persistent aerial bombardment using devices, barrel bombs, allegedly containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant on explosion,” [Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan] said. “These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are causing significant casualties and horrific injuries, especially burns.” Such allegations were first made last week by local leaders in Upper Nile…He added that such violence was escalating as the country drew closer to elections, expected next year. “Rampant misinformation, disinformation and hate speech is also ratcheting up tensions and driving ethnic divisions, and fear,” he said. (BBC)