South Sudan’s air force carried out air strikes in the eastern region, resulting in 19 casualties. The attacks follow a recent governmental retreat from the area amid conflicts with the White Army, raising fears of renewed civil war. Accusations of collusion between the White Army and Riek Machar’s party have surfaced, although the latter denies involvement. Meanwhile, Uganda has sent troops to South Sudan, despite governmental denials of their presence.
Recently, South Sudan’s air force conducted significant air strikes in the eastern region, resulting in the deaths of approximately 19 individuals, as reported by local sources. This attack follows the withdrawal of government forces from the area amid escalating conflicts with the White Army, an armed group primarily constituted of ethnic Nuer youths. These developments have raised concerns about the potential resurgence of the civil war, which had devastating impacts from 2013 to 2018.
The clashes occurred in Nasir, a location bordering Ethiopia, where government troops engaged with the White Army. The South Sudanese government has accused the party of First Vice President Riek Machar, who represents the Nuer community, of collaborating with this militia. Machar’s faction, which previously allied with the White Army during the civil conflict against President Salva Kiir’s Dinka-led government, has denied any involvement in the recent violence.
Additionally, a tragic event unfolded on March 7, when a U.N. helicopter was attacked, leading to the deaths of roughly 27 soldiers, including a South Sudanese general. Following the bombing in Nasir, details emerged from community leaders such as Kang Wan, who described how 15 individuals perished immediately, with others succumbing to their injuries subsequently. Wan reported, “All of them got burned, everything got burned,” highlighting the severity of the attack.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) indicated that their facility in Ulang attended to three patients from Nasir who had been injured in the airstrike. Unfortunately, two of these patients were pronounced dead upon arrival due to critical burn injuries. Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, who is an ally of Machar, suggested that the air force may have targeted the region in retaliation for the helicopter attack. In a parallel development, Uganda recently deployed special forces to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, despite conflicting reports from the South Sudanese government regarding the presence of Ugandan troops. Nevertheless, Information Minister Michael Makuei acknowledged the assistance being provided by Ugandan units to support the national army.
The recent escalation of violence in South Sudan highlights the fragile security situation in the region, especially following the air strikes that resulted in significant casualties. The tensions between government forces and ethnic militias, particularly the White Army, raise fears of a resurgence of civil conflict. Moreover, the involvement of foreign troops, amidst conflicting narratives, adds complexity to the ongoing crisis.
Original Source: myind.net
