An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, caused civilian casualties amidst escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir’s forces and Riek Machar’s allies. Local officials reported significant damages and fires; the SSPDF is accused of the attack as a retaliation. The situation in Nasir has sparked fears of renewed conflict, particularly following prior territorial seizures and ongoing arrests of Machar’s associates.
An airstrike occurred late on Sunday in Nasir, South Sudan, resulting in civilian casualties and significant fires. This incident is part of the increasing tensions between President Salva Kiir’s forces and rival factions allied with First Vice President Riek Machar. Local officials stated that the military aircraft targeted the town’s airstrip and surrounding areas at approximately 11:40 pm, accounting for considerable property damage, although precise casualty figures remain unverified.
Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep confirmed that casualties had occurred, stating, “There are people who have died and [been] injured, but we are yet to confirm the numbers,” with victims being transported to local hospitals. He attributed the airstrike to the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), suggesting it was a retaliatory attack for recent skirmishes in the area.
Additionally, Gatluak reported that Longechuk County was also bombed, although details are scarce. Video evidence circulating on social media depicted flames consuming homes in Nasir, corroborated by local armed youth commander Tet Chuol Gatkuoth, who remarked, “I can confirm that the SSPDF has just bombed our areas in Nasir, but we have yet to assess the damage caused by the airstrike.”
SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang was unavailable for comment regarding the airstrikes. This airstrike follows an escalation of tensions, including a declaration by Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok on Friday, asserting the intention to reclaim Nasir after previous hostilities.
Nasir, strategically located near the Ethiopia border, has been under threat since the White Army, linked to Machar, seized control of a government base there on March 4. This development raises alarms over a potential resurgence of conflict between Kiir and Machar, whose civil war from 2013 to 2018 resulted in extensive loss of life. A power-sharing agreement formed under a 2018 peace accord is further jeopardized by ongoing violence and arrests of Machar’s affiliates in Juba.
The recent airstrike in Nasir exemplifies the rising tensions in South Sudan, highlighting the fragile nature of the power-sharing agreement between Kiir and Machar. The attack, attributed to the SSPDF, resulted in civilian casualties and property destruction, increasing fears of renewed conflict in the region. The strategic implications of Nasir, combined with the historical animosities between the factions, underscore the precarious status of peace in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
