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Fatal Assault and Fears of War as Turmoil Builds in South Sudan Fatal Assault and Fears of War as Turmoil Builds in South Sudan
(about 2 hours later)
A political crisis in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, worsened significantly on Thursday, as a deadly assault hit a United Nations peacekeeping base, the number of civilians seeking refuge in the organization’s other facilities there exceeded 30,000 and diplomats expressed fears about the potential for a civil war.A political crisis in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, worsened significantly on Thursday, as a deadly assault hit a United Nations peacekeeping base, the number of civilians seeking refuge in the organization’s other facilities there exceeded 30,000 and diplomats expressed fears about the potential for a civil war.
Britain began evacuating its citizens on Thursday. The United States suspended operations at its embassy in Juba, the capital, this week and strongly advised Americans to leave.Britain began evacuating its citizens on Thursday. The United States suspended operations at its embassy in Juba, the capital, this week and strongly advised Americans to leave.
In New York, Jan Eliasson, the United Nations deputy secretary general, said that the peacekeeping force’s base in the town of Akobo in Jonglei State had been assaulted “and we have reports that lives are lost.” Later in the day, India’s United Nations ambassador, Asoke Mukerji, said three Indian peacekeepers in Akobo had been killed. In New York, Jan Eliasson, the United Nations deputy secretary general, said that the peacekeeping force’s base in the town of Akobo in Jonglei State had been assaulted, “and we have reports that lives are lost.” Later in the day, India’s United Nations ambassador, Asoke Mukerji, said three Indian peacekeepers in Akobo had been killed.
Kieran Dwyer, a spokesman for the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said late Thursday that communications with the base in Akobo had been lost. “We have had some communications with peacekeepers in the area subsequent to the attack, but communications are extremely difficult, and we need to get our teams in by helicopter first thing tomorrow morning before we will know more,” he said in an email.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the peacekeeping force known by its acronym Unmiss, said in a statement that at the time of the assault by unidentified attackers, the Akobo base housed 43 Indian peacekeepers, six United Nations police advisers and two civilians of undisclosed nationalities, and about 30 South Sudanese who had sought refuge there from mayhem in the area.The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the peacekeeping force known by its acronym Unmiss, said in a statement that at the time of the assault by unidentified attackers, the Akobo base housed 43 Indian peacekeepers, six United Nations police advisers and two civilians of undisclosed nationalities, and about 30 South Sudanese who had sought refuge there from mayhem in the area.
The peacekeeping force’s commanders were sending an aircraft to Akobo on Friday to evacuate the base, the statement said, and the mission “fully expects all forces, whatever their allegiance, to ensure the safety of Unmiss personnel and any civilians located inside mission premises.”
Earlier Thursday, the mission reported on its Twitter account that 20,000 people were housed at its two compounds in Juba and up to 14,000 at its compound in Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, about 125 miles north of Juba.Earlier Thursday, the mission reported on its Twitter account that 20,000 people were housed at its two compounds in Juba and up to 14,000 at its compound in Bor, the capital of Jonglei State, about 125 miles north of Juba.
The United Nations Security Council was expected to hold an emergency meeting about South Sudan on Friday.The United Nations Security Council was expected to hold an emergency meeting about South Sudan on Friday.
The situation in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been tense for months but it has quickly deteriorated in the past five days, when the president, Salva Kiir, accused his former vice president, Riek Machar, of attempting a military coup, which Mr. Machar denied. There have been unconfirmed reports that more than 500 people have been killed and that sectarian animosities between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups have been inflamed. The situation in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, has been tense for months, but it has quickly deteriorated in the past five days, when the president, Salva Kiir, accused his former vice president, Riek Machar, of attempting a military coup, which Mr. Machar denied. There have been unconfirmed reports that more than 500 people have been killed and that sectarian animosities between the Dinka and Nuer ethnic groups have been inflamed.
Gérard Araud, France’s United Nations ambassador and the current Council president, told the BBC that the fighting “has the potential for civil war,” a prospect that has alarmed neighbors in Africa, already worried by lawlessness in the Central African Republic and the chronic instability in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a letter to Congress released Thursday night, President Obama said 45 American troops had been sent to South Sudan to “support the security of U.S. personnel and our embassy.”
Navi Pillay, the top human rights official at the United Nations, also expressed concern on Thursday about what she called the “rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Sudan and the consequences for the civilian population.” The risk that the fighting could acquire an ethnic dimension, she said, “is extremely high and could result in a dangerous situation.” In a statement, Mr. Obama warned that South Sudan “stands at the precipice.”
 Navi Pillay, the top human rights official at the United Nations, expressed concern on Thursday about what she called the “rapidly deteriorating security situation in South Sudan and the consequences for the civilian population.”
The United Nations, which has operated in South Sudan for years and aided its transition to independence, has a tense relationship with the government, and South Sudanese officials have accused the organization of taking sides in the simmering conflict with Sudan.The United Nations, which has operated in South Sudan for years and aided its transition to independence, has a tense relationship with the government, and South Sudanese officials have accused the organization of taking sides in the simmering conflict with Sudan.
In April, seven United Nations employees and five Indian peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in Jonglei that South Sudan attributed to rebels. A year ago, the military, in what it called a miscommunication, shot down a United Nations helicopter, killing all four Russian crew members.In April, seven United Nations employees and five Indian peacekeepers were killed in an ambush in Jonglei that South Sudan attributed to rebels. A year ago, the military, in what it called a miscommunication, shot down a United Nations helicopter, killing all four Russian crew members.

Rick Gladstone reported from New York, and Alan Cowell from London.

Rick Gladstone reported from New York, and Alan Cowell from London.