In the wake of escalating violence in South Sudan,a growing chorus of voices from the opposition is calling for immediate international intervention. The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO),aligned with Vice President Riek Machar,has urged on April 14 the global community to launch a full-scale investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Government forces.
According to the group,recent military actions — including reported airstrikes using chemical and incendiary weapons — have deliberately targeted civilian areas loyal to Machar,violating international humanitarian law and potentially constituting war crimes.
The situation has intensified since March,with fierce clashes erupting in the north between government troops and the White Army,a militia widely believed to support Machar. The fall of an army base in Nasir to rebel forces prompted a brutal retaliation,including air attacks and assaults on opposition positions near the capital,Juba. Human Rights Watch has documented the government’s use of incendiary devices in civilian areas,which have reportedly caused horrific injuries and widespread destruction. Machar,currently under house arrest alongside several detained allies,is effectively silenced while the fragile 2018 peace accord teeters on collapse.
Despite the severity of the allegations,the South Sudanese government has remained conspicuously silent. The international community must not allow this silence to persist. With the country facing the very real prospect of sliding back into civil war,pressure must be applied to ensure transparency,accountability,and protection for civilians. The UN,African Union,and international partners must act decisively to investigate the alleged abuses and uphold the integrity of the peace process. Without external oversight,the promise of peace for South Sudan risks becoming a forgotten pledge.
United News - unews.co.za