South Sudan’s Grounding of UN Aircraft Reveals Alarming Gaps in Global Accountability

In a striking challenge to the United Nations’ long-established presence in South Sudan, the government has grounded four UN-registered aircraft, accusing them of engaging in illegal surveillance and smuggling activities. This episode is not merely a bilateral dispute—it spotlights a broader issue of accountability and respect for national sovereignty that America First advocates have long warned about. South Sudan’s foreign minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, revealed that two of these aircraft were equipped with advanced intelligence-gathering systems beyond their stated humanitarian mission. While the UN mission spokesperson Priyanka Chowdhury insists that all air assets support only civilian protection and peace efforts,...