NAS warns of possible war crimes, genocide amid rising SSPDF operations against some communities
The National Salvation Front (NAS) has warned that the ongoing military operations by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) against certain communities in the country could lead to war crimes, genocide and more, on the scale of the conflicts in 2013 and 2016 if not swiftly addressed.
In a statement issued on February 28, NAS accused the government of President Salva Kiir of orchestrating communal violence by pitting ethnic groups against each other while using the SSPDF to carry out attacks under false pretexts. The statement as specifically pointed to recent military actions in Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states as evidence of a deliberate campaign to target civilians.
Salva Kiir’s regime has declared war against some communities…that will result in war crimes, including genocide, just as it did in December 2013 and 2016
Thousands of SSPDF troops were deployed to Nasir and Ulang Counties in Upper Nile State via military barges, backed by tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery, helicopter gunships, and drones. The government claims the operations are intended to dismantle illegal checkpoints, but these explanations have widely been debunked as fabrications to cover up attacks on civilians.
Several reports indicate that civilians have already been killed in the recent clashes, warning that the violence is escalating toward a large-scale humanitarian crisis. “The bloodshed has already begun, and if the international community does not act, we may see a repeat of the darkest chapters in South Sudan’s history,” the statement added.
“Salva Kiir’s regime has declared war against some communities in South Sudan that will result in war crimes, including genocide, just as it did in December 2013 and 2016 against the Nuer people,” NAS warned in the statement.
NAS also linked the violence to Kiir’s political maneuvers, affirming that the president is using military operations to consolidate power by manipulating ethnic divisions.
NAS called on the international community, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and humanitarian organizations to closely monitor the escalating violence and intervene where possible. It also urged South Sudanese citizens to rise against the government, accusing it of using communal conflicts to distract from corruption and resource exploitation.
The South Sudanese government has not yet responded to NAS’ allegations. The country has struggled with recurring violence since gaining independence in 2011, with past conflicts leading to mass killings and severe humanitarian crises.
###
