The U.S. State Department has ordered nonemergency government personnel to leave South Sudan’s capital as tension escalates because of fighting in the north.

The travel advisory level for South Sudan remains at Level 4, which means Americans should not travel to the African country.

On Friday, a South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers were killed when a U.N. helicopter trying to evacuate them from Nasir came under attack, the government said.

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has called on military officers allied with First Vice President Riek Machar to return to work after reports that some had gone into hiding following recent clashes in Nasir County,

A crew member was killed and two others were injured when a United Nations helicopter on an evacuation mission in a remote part of South Sudan was attacked.

The United Nations said the incident, which could deal a blow to an already fragile peace process, was "utterly abhorrent" and a possible war crime.

The United States has ordered its non-emergency government personnel in South Sudan to leave the country because of security concerns, the State Department said on Sunday. "Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups.

The aircraft came under fire as it tried to rescue wounded soldiers, the United Nations said. The attack came amid fears that a critical power-sharing deal was at risk of collapse, risking all-out civil war.

South Sudan's political landscape is tense as forces loyal to President Kiir arrest key allies of Vice President Machar, including the Peacebuilding Minister. This moves jeopardize the peace deal between the factions.

President William Ruto has urged South Sudan President Salva Kiir and the first Vice President Riek Machar to engage in dialogue in a bid to foster peace.

A UN helicopter evacuation mission in South Sudan was attacked, resulting in casualties, amid increasing tension between the country's leaders. The incident threatens the 2018 peace deal between President Kiir and Vice President Machar,

Increased violence and political friction in South Sudan threaten its fragile peace process, a United Nations rights body said on Saturday, days after the arrests of several officials allied to the country's vice president.