BY Jacob Onuha Nelson
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has expressed deep concern over recent clashes in Nasir County in Upper Nile State.
Fighting between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the local White Army, which erupted on March 3, 2025, risks reversing years of progress towards stability
‘I am deeply concerned by the recent violence and ongoing political unrest in South Sudan. The attack on a UN helicopter in Nasir, which claimed the lives of South Sudanese soldiers and UN personnel, is alarming,” Barth in a statement seen by this outlet.
He noted that detentions of senior leaders and military officials heighten fears of renewed conflict, jeopardising the fragile peace established with the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
“I urge all parties to exercise restraint, respect international humanitarian law, and engage in inclusive dialogue to prevent further violence. Ensuring the safety of civilians and safe, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian actors is paramount,” he added.
Norway commends the UN peacekeeping troops and calls on all parties to continue their cooperation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Norway further expresses commitment to continue to stand with the people of South Sudan in their pursuit of peace, stability and a secure future.