The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency government personnel to evacuate South Sudan’s capital, Juba, citing escalating tensions and ongoing conflict.
The decision follows recent clashes between armed groups and the South Sudanese army in the northern regions.
The State Department’s travel advisory, issued Sunday, warned of readily available weapons and continued fighting.
The recent unrest stems from a Tuesday confrontation, resulting in the arrests of two government ministers and a deputy army chief, all aligned with Vice President Riek Machar.
Machar’s residence was subsequently surrounded by military forces, sparking fears among his supporters that the arrests threaten the fragile peace agreement.
South Sudan endured a devastating civil war from 2013 to 2018, leaving over 400,000 dead.
The security situation further deteriorated after a United Nations helicopter, engaged in an evacuation mission, was attacked on Friday.
The U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan condemned the attack as a potential war crime.