An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, killed at least 19 people, occurring shortly after government troops withdrew from clashes with the White Army. Allegations suggest the government targets ethnic militias linked to Vice President Riek Machar. This incident exacerbates fears of a renewed civil war. Medecins Sans Frontieres reported treating victims with severe burns. Uganda’s military presence in South Sudan has been confirmed to support local forces.
An airstrike by South Sudan’s airforce resulted in at least 19 fatalities in the eastern town of Nasir, according to local residents. This incident occurred less than two weeks after government troops retreated from the region following intense confrontations with the White Army, an ethnic militia made up primarily of armed Nuer youths. The ongoing clashes raise concerns about the potential resurgence of the 2013-2018 civil conflict, which has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
The South Sudanese government alleges that First Vice President Riek Machar’s party is colluding with the White Army, historically aligned with Machar’s forces during the civil war against President Salva Kiir’s predominantly Dinka soldiers. Machar’s faction has denied these alleged ties. Previously, about 27 soldiers, including a South Sudanese general, were killed on March 7 when a UN helicopter tasked with their evacuation came under fire.
South Sudan’s Information Minister Michael Makuei confirmed that the airforce attacked Nasir on Monday morning. Community leader Kang Wan reported that the attack occurred late Sunday night, with 15 victims killed instantly and the others succumbing to injuries later. Wan described the scene, stating, “All of them they got burned, everything got burned.”
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) disclosed that their hospital in nearby Ulang received three wounded individuals from Nasir, with two pronounced dead on arrival due to severe burns. Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, an ally of Machar, suggested the attack might be retaliation for the helicopter incident. Furthermore, Uganda announced it had sent special forces to Juba to secure the area, despite South Sudan’s government initially denying the deployment of Ugandan troops, although Makuei later acknowledged their presence to assist the national army.
The airstrike in Nasir has claimed the lives of 19 individuals, intensifying fears of renewed conflict in South Sudan. The allegations of government forces targeting ethnic militias raise concerns of escalating violence linked to previous civil war animosities. The involvement of Ugandan forces adds another layer to the complex security situation in South Sudan. Overall, the cycle of violence and ethnic tension poses significant challenges to peace in the region.
Original Source: bdnews24.com
