Germany temporarily shuts embassy in South Sudan amid fears of civil war

Germany has closed its embassy in Juba amid rising tensions in South Sudan, where clashes between government forces and ethnic militias threaten to reignite civil war.

Germany has temporarily closed its embassy in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, in response to escalating violence and mounting fears of a renewed civil war, the German Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.

The closure comes as tensions between the South Sudanese government and ethnic militias in Upper Nile state have intensified. President Salva Kiir recently dismissed the governor of the region amid growing clashes between government forces and a militia suspected of aligning with Kiir’s political rival, First Vice President Riek Machar. The situation has prompted widespread concern that the fragile peace in South Sudan may collapse, threatening to plunge the country back into the violence that devastated it during its previous civil war.

South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has struggled to maintain stability after a brutal civil conflict that lasted from 2013 to 2018 and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Despite a peace agreement signed in 2018, the situation remains precarious, with various armed groups vying for control and political power.

The German Foreign Ministry expressed its deep concern over the current situation, calling on both President Kiir and Vice President Machar to take responsibility for halting the violence and fully implementing the peace agreement. In a statement posted on social media, the ministry warned, “After years of fragile peace, South Sudan is once again on the brink of civil war. President Kiir and Vice President Machar are plunging the country into a spiral of violence.”

This development further highlights the ongoing instability in South Sudan, where international pressure is mounting for its leaders to prioritize peace and reconciliation. The closure of the German embassy underscores the severity of the crisis, as foreign governments take measures to protect their citizens and diplomatic staff in the face of growing uncertainty.

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