South Sudanese President Kiir said on March 7th that two UN helicopters carrying out a rescue mission in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, were attacked by artillery fire that day, killing many people, including a general of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces.
Kiir said at a press conference held in the capital Juba that evening that at the request of the South Sudanese government, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) sent two helicopters to Nasir County. While trying to transfer trapped South Sudanese soldiers, they came under heavy artillery fire. One of the helicopters crashed in Malakal shortly after forced takeoff, killing all on board.
Kiir said that among the dead was a general of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces. At the same time, he called on the public to remain calm and reiterated his commitment to peace.
South Sudan's Minister of Information, Communications Technology and Postal Services Michael Makuei Lueth said at a press conference that a total of 27 people, including UN personnel, were killed in the attack.
Earlier that day, the UNMISS confirmed in a statement that a UN helicopter was attacked while on a mission in Nasir County, killing one crew member and seriously injuring two others. The statement said that UNMISS's assistance to the government forces in evacuating and relocating is part of efforts to prevent violence in Nasir County and ease political tensions. Recent clashes in the region have caused a large number of casualties and the displacement of civilians.
Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, strongly condemned the attack and called on all parties to the conflict to take urgent intervention actions to resolve tensions through dialogue and prevent the conflict from spilling over beyond Nasir County.
On March 3rd, the South Sudan People's Defense Forces clashed with local armed forces allied with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition, which is led by First Vice President Machar, in Nasir County. Currently, most of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces have withdrawn from the area.
