In brief
On March 7, 2025, in a troubling incident in Upper Nile State, a U.N. helicopter was attacked while attempting to evacuate injured South Sudanese soldiers, resulting in the death of one crew member and injuries to two others. The U.N. reported that as tensions have heightened, these soldiers were subsequently killed during the attack. The armed group known as the White Army claimed that the assault began as the military personnel readied to board the chopper. The incident came amidst rising fears of a renewed civil war in the youngest nation globally, with many citizens and international officials expressing concerns over the country’s stability.
In a call for peace, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir asserted his commitment to managing the crisis, stating, “Let no one take law into their hands.” However, critics of the government argue that the political leadership, including Kiir and his rival, Riek Machar, have significantly contributed to the increasing conflict. This helicopter attack is part of a series of violent clashes tied to an ongoing power-sharing agreement established after a brutal civil war that concluded in 2018. The South Sudanese government reported that 27 soldiers died in the helicopter incident, though this figure has not been independently verified.
