An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, on Sunday resulted in civilian casualties amid rising tensions between President Kiir’s forces and Vice President Machar’s factions. Local officials reported bombings on both Nasir and Longechuk County, attributing the assault to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces. This incident is part of a broader conflict that risks destabilizing the fragile unity government formed following the civil war between 2013 and 2018.
In a troubling escalation of tensions in South Sudan, an airstrike occurred in Nasir, Upper Nile State, late Sunday, resulting in civilian casualties and extensive damages. Reports from local officials and witnesses indicate that a military aircraft dropped multiple bombs around 11:40 PM, targeting the town’s airstrip and adjacent areas. County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep confirmed incidents of injury and loss of life, though definitive casualty numbers remain unverified.
The attack, attributed to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), is seen as retaliation for recent conflicts in Nasir. In addition, Gatluak reported another bombing incident in Longechuk County on the same day. Eyewitness accounts included visuals of significant fire damage to residential structures and surroundings in Nasir, creating a sense of urgency among the local population for damage assessments.
Local armed youth commander, Tet Chuol Gatkuoth, corroborated the bombing, stating that evaluations of the consequences from the attack are underway. The strike appears to follow a period of escalating hostilities, specifically after Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok expressed intentions to reclaim Nasir during a recent funeral for an SSPDF commander allegedly involved in a UN evacuation attempt.
Nasir, a strategically important border town adjacent to Ethiopia, was previously captured by the White Army militia linked to Vice President Riek Machar, raising concerns of renewed conflict between rival factions. The power-sharing situation remains delicate, compounded by the recent arrests of associates aligned with Machar in Juba, further straining the tenuous unity government formed after a brutal civil war that occurred from 2013 to 2018.
The recent airstrike in Nasir marks a significant escalation in existing tensions between the factions led by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The attack has resulted in civilian casualties and material destruction, intensifying fears of renewed conflict in a region that has experienced considerable violence. Moreover, this development threatens the stability of the fragile unity government established under the 2018 peace agreement, highlighting the ongoing struggle for power and control in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
