An airstrike in South Sudan’s Nasir killed at least 19 people, heightening tensions with the White Army militia and risking renewed civil conflict. This incident follows a government withdrawal from the area and comes as accusations target First Vice President Riek Machar’s faction of collusion with the militia. Amidst these clashes, Uganda has deployed forces to support Juba’s security.
A recent airstrike by the South Sudan Airforce in Nasir led to the death of at least 19 individuals, exacerbating tensions between the government and the White Army militia. This incident follows a government withdrawal from the area, heightening the risk of renewed civil conflict in the region. The clashes involve national forces and the White Army, a group largely composed of ethnic Nuer youths who have a history of armed resistance.
The clashes come amidst accusations against First Vice President Riek Machar’s faction, implying collusion with the White Army, which had supported Machar during South Sudan’s extensive civil war. Machar’s party has denied these claims of collaboration, maintaining their position against the allegations.
On March 7, a U.N. helicopter under attack while attempting to evacuate South Sudanese forces from Nasir resulted in the deaths of 27 soldiers, including a general. Eyewitness accounts report that the airstrike occurred late Sunday night, with community leader Kang Wan confirming that 15 individuals died immediately from the bombing, while others succumbed to their injuries later.
Medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that its hospital received several burn victims from Nasir, with at least two pronounced dead on arrival. County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew suggested that this airstrike might have been retaliation for the helicopter incident, further complicating the region’s security situation.
Following these events, Uganda has deployed special forces in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, allegedly to secure the area. The government initially denied the presence of Ugandan troops but later acknowledged their deployment to assist the South Sudanese armed forces as needed.
The airstrike in Nasir marks a critical escalation in the longstanding tensions between South Sudan’s government and the White Army militia, raising concerns over potential civil war resumption. The incidents underscore the fragility of the security situation in the region and highlight the complex dynamics involving ethnic militias and political factions. As regional developments unfold, monitoring the conflict’s evolution will be essential for understanding South Sudan’s future stability.
Original Source: www.indiatoday.in
