An airstrike in South Sudan’s Nasir killed at least 19 individuals following recent clashes between government forces and the White Army. The incident raises concerns about renewed civil conflict. The government’s accusations against Riek Machar’s faction complicate the political landscape, while the presence of Ugandan troops adds to regional security concerns.
An airstrike conducted by South Sudan’s airforce resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals in the eastern town of Nasir, as reported by local residents. This incident occurred shortly after government forces had retreated from the area amid escalating clashes with the White Army, an ethnic militia primarily composed of armed Nuer youths. The tensions in Nasir, near the Ethiopian border, have raised concerns about the potential resurgence of the civil conflict that plagued the nation from 2013 to 2018, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.
The South Sudanese government has accused the political faction led by First Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer, of collaborating with the White Army, which previously aligned with Machar’s forces during the civil war against President Salva Kiir’s predominantly ethnic Dinka troops. Machar’s faction has denied these allegations. Notably, a South Sudanese general was among approximately 27 soldiers killed during a UN helicopter attack on March 7, aimed at evacuating them from the besieged city of Nasir.
South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei, confirmed that the airforce bombed Nasir on the morning of March 17. Kang Wan, a local community leader, reported that the bombing occurred late on Sunday evening and detailed that 15 individuals died instantly, while others succumbed to their injuries later. Another resident noted seeing 16 lifeless bodies, totaling the fatalities to 19. In a phone interview with Reuters, Wan lamented, “All of them they got burned, everything got burned.”
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated that its hospital in the nearby town of Ulang received three injured patients from Nasir that morning, but announced that two were pronounced dead upon arrival due to severe burns. Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, who supports Machar, suggested that the armed forces were likely retaliating for the prior helicopter assault.
Amid this escalating violence, Uganda disclosed the deployment of special forces in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to ensure security, although the South Sudanese government initially denied the presence of Ugandan troops. Makuei, however, acknowledged that some Ugandan army units were present to assist the national army as needed.
In summary, the recent airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, caused significant casualties, highlighting the ongoing tensions between government forces and ethnic militias. Accusations of collaboration between Machar’s faction and the White Army reflect the fragile political landscape, potentially threatening a resurgence of previous civil strife. The presence of Ugandan forces adds complexity to the situation, underlining regional security dynamics.
Original Source: bdnews24.com
