South Sudan Grounds UN Jets Over Spying

The government of South Sudan has grounded four aircraft belonging to the United Nations mission. This move has sparked a tense diplomatic standoff over allegations of espionage and smuggling.

Authorities in Juba claim the planes were operating outside the UN’s mandate. However, the international body has firmly denied these serious charges.

Allegations of Spying

According to Monday Semaya Kumba, South Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the decision followed alarming intelligence reports. These reports raised significant security concerns regarding the aircraft’s activities.

A government committee was quickly dispatched to inspect the fleet. Kumba stated that inspectors discovered advanced surveillance and intelligence recording systems on two of the planes.

Consequently, the government accused the mission of using the aircraft for illegal surveillance and smuggling operations.

UN Denies Wrongdoing

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has rejected these accusations.

Priyanka Chowdhury, a spokesperson for the mission, emphasized that all assets operate strictly within the agreed framework.

“All air assets are used solely in support of our mandate to help protect civilians and support lasting peace in South Sudan,” Chowdhury stated on Monday.

She added that the mission has been in dialogue with the government “for a while now” to resolve the dispute. She maintained that the UN operates with full transparency in the region.

History of Tensions

This is not the first aviation dispute between Juba and the UN.

In 2017, the government grounded UN aircraft after peacekeepers were deployed to guard the nation’s main airport. At the time, the government insisted this deployment was not part of the UN’s mandate.

Humanitarian Stakes

The grounding of these assets could have severe implications for the country’s vulnerable population.

The UN’s mandate includes the delivery of critical aid. According to UN data, more than 70% of South Sudan’s 11 million people currently rely on humanitarian assistance for food, healthcare, and other basic necessities.