SSPDF commander in Nasir killed during UN evacuation attempt

JUBA – A South Sudanese army general was killed in Nasir during a United Nations evacuation attempt, which also resulted in the death of a U.N. peacekeeper and several other soldiers, the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Friday.

UNMISS said a helicopter conducting an evacuation in Nasir, Upper Nile State, came under fire, killing one crew member and seriously injuring two others. Several members of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), including a wounded general, were also killed during the attempted extraction.

The mission did not identify the SSPDF general by name, but a local source, speaking to Sudans Post from Nasir, identified him as General Majur Dak, the SSPDF Brigade commander in Nasir.

The source alleged the general had been firing at local armed youth, known as the White Army, who then prevented his evacuation following the detention of the national government minister of peace-building in Juba.

“The general was hiding and he has continued to open fire against the youth… As a result of the fire coming from them, the youth became angry and refused the helicopter to take the general,” the source said.

UNMISS said the evacuation was conducted at the request of all parties to de-escalate tensions following recent clashes between the SSPDF and armed youth, which caused significant casualties and civilian displacement.

“The attack on UNMISS personnel is utterly abhorrent and may constitute a war crime under international law,” said Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, in a statement.

“We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to extract, particularly when assurances of safe passage had been received. UNMISS urges an investigation to determine those responsible and hold them accountable.”

The mission called for an end to further violence and urged South Sudan’s leaders to intervene to resolve tensions through dialogue. It stressed the importance of adhering to the ceasefire and upholding the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.