Germany closes embassy in South Sudan amid escalating violence

Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock has announced the temporary closure of its embassy in South Sudan due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country.

Baerbock made these remarks on the Bluesky online platform, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The minister stated that after several years of fragile peace, South Sudan had once again found itself on the brink of civil war. She explained that, in light of the escalating violence, the German government had made the decision this week to temporarily close its embassy in the capital, Juba, in response to the worsening crisis.

The decision comes after a series of intense clashes in South Sudan’s northeastern town of Nasir earlier this month. In early March, violent confrontations broke out between South Sudan’s regular military forces and the "White Army" militia, which is composed largely of members from the Nuer ethnic group. 

The militia, which has ties to the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, managed to capture full control of Nasir and seize a military base. The situation worsened on March 7, when 28 soldiers were killed during a UN-backed evacuation mission. The soldiers, including a major-general, were killed by the militia as they attempted to flee the fighting. Just days later, on March 17, an airstrike targeted Nasir, killing at least 21 people. 

Eyewitnesses have blamed government forces for the bombing, further escalating tensions in the region. The White Army, formed in 1991 following a split within the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, is primarily involved in guarding areas inhabited by the Nuer people. Its role in the ongoing violence has raised concerns about the future stability of South Sudan.

By Naila Huseynova