Airstrike in Nasir Marks Escalation of Conflict in South Sudan

An airstrike on Nasir, South Sudan, has resulted in civilian casualties and significant destruction amid escalating tensions between President Salva Kiir’s forces and those aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar. The military action is viewed as retaliation for recent clashes, further straining the country’s fragile peace agreement.

An airstrike occurred in the town of Nasir, situated in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, late on Sunday, resulting in civilian casualties and significant fires, according to local officials and witnesses. This incident coincides with rising tensions between the forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and the rival groups led by First Vice President Riek Machar. Local Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep reported that multiple bombs were dropped by a military aircraft around 11:40 p.m., causing substantial destruction.

Gatluak indicated that while there were confirmed fatalities and injuries, the total number could not yet be verified. Victims were promptly transported to hospitals for treatment, marking a devastating effect on the civilian population. Gatluak, an ally of Machar, asserted that the airstrike was a retaliatory act by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) in response to recent clashes in the region. Furthermore, he claimed that Longechuk County was also targeted in the bombing, although details were scarce at that time.

A video shared on social media depicted flames consuming homes and vegetation in Nasir, corroborated by witness reports of fire outbreaks. Local armed youth commander Tet Chuol Gatkuoth confirmed the bombing but noted that assessments of the resulting damage had not yet been completed. He stated, “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.”

The airstrike represents a continuation of increasing hostilities, as Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok had previously pledged to reclaim Nasir during a recent funeral for an SSPDF commander killed in a prior incident. Nasir, a critical border point adjacent to Ethiopia, was taken on March 4 by the White Army, a militia allegedly associated with Machar. This event has intensified concerns regarding a potential resurgence of conflict between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar, who previously led opposing factions during a civil war from 2013 to 2018, claiming many lives.

The recent violence has strained a fragile unity government established through a 2018 peace agreement. In addition, several arrests of Machar’s associates in the capital city, Juba, by Kiir’s administration have further destabilized their power-sharing arrangement. Nasir continues to bear the brunt of escalating tensions and conflict since the capture of an SSPDF base by the White Army.

The recent airstrike in Nasir underscores the escalating tensions between rival factions in South Sudan. The incident not only resulted in civilian casualties and property damage but also highlights the strained relations in the fragile power-sharing agreement formed during the 2018 peace deal. With further arrests of Machar’s associates and ongoing violence, the situation remains precarious, prompting fears of renewed conflict in the region.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org