Nasir in Upper Nile State has been struck by renewed airstrikes from the SSPDF and UPDF amidst rising tensions between government leaders Kiir and Machar. The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and destruction of local infrastructure, prompting calls from activists for immediate cessation of aerial bombardments and international intervention.
Nasir, a town in Upper Nile State, has recently experienced a surge in airstrikes as the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) launched fresh attacks. This escalation is rooted in increasing tensions between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar. The recent airstrikes follow a previous incident on March 17, which resulted in the deaths of at least 21 civilians, including women and children.
Uganda has sent special forces to South Sudan, proclaiming their intent to secure Juba, the capital. There are allegations that the UPDF is coordinating airstrikes in support of the SSPDF. Furthermore, South Sudan’s Defence Minister has stated a determination to reclaim Nasir, which fell into the hands of the White Army militia on March 4 after intense fighting with the SSPDF.
According to Gatluak Lew Thiep, the Commissioner of Nasir County, military aircraft dropped multiple bombs on the town at approximately 3:30 AM. He accused the military forces and their Ugandan counterparts of deploying chemical weapons. The bombings resulted in injuries to two individuals, a mother and her young child, with the child in critical condition.
The airstrikes also inflicted damage on the local market, with one bomb directly destroying several shops, particularly those selling tea. The commissioner reported that the airstrike on his property caused further distress, as four bombs landed in his vicinity, injuring a mother and her child.
Edmund Yakani, a civil society activist, has urged South Sudan’s leadership to immediately cease the aerial bombardments impacting civilians in Nasir County. He warns that continued violence could escalate into a broader conflict involving international actors, prolonging the suffering for South Sudanese citizens.
Yakani holds President Kiir and First Vice President Machar accountable for the ongoing conflict, calling for intervention by international bodies such as IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations to facilitate discussions with South Sudan’s leaders. He emphasized Uganda’s role as a peace guarantor while simultaneously partaking in actions that undermine the peace process, urging for an immediate halt to all human rights violations.
The situation in Nasir highlights the urgent need for intervention and accountability in South Sudan. The recent airstrikes have led to civilian casualties and significant infrastructural damage, illustrating the severe humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict. Activists are calling for immediate action to prevent further escalation and to protect civilian lives, stressing the responsibility of the nation’s leaders and the international community to take a stand against these violations.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
