The embassies of Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union have strongly condemned the attack on a UN helicopter in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, on Friday.
One crew member was killed, and two others were seriously injured in the attack.
The incident occurred during a United Nations evacuation operation of SSPDF soldiers in Nasir on Friday morning. The evacuation was part of efforts to defuse tensions following recent clashes between the SSPDF and the White Army, a loosely organized armed youth group predominantly from the Nuer ethnic community. The White Army has been linked by the government to SPLA-IO forces loyal to Dr. Riek Machar.
On Tuesday, the White Army seized control of Nasir’s military barracks after fierce fighting with government forces, leaving SSPDF commander Gen. Majur Dak and his troops stranded in trenches.
In a press release, the embassies stated, “We equally condemn those who failed to respect the assurances of safe passage for the South Sudanese military personnel whom the helicopter crew were seeking to extract to safety.”
They expressed their condolences to the families of those killed and called for urgent action by South Sudan’s transitional government leaders to engage in high-level dialogue to prevent further violence and loss of life.
“Leaders must put the interests of the South Sudanese people above their own political agendas,” the press release asserted.