Escalating Tensions in South Sudan: Airstrike Hits Nasir, Causing Casualties

An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, has led to civilian casualties amid rising tensions between President Salva Kiir’s forces and those of First Vice President Riek Machar. Local officials report significant damage and fires. The attack follows threats of military action towards Nasir, a vital border hub, raising concerns of renewed conflict after a history of civil war.

An airstrike targeted the town of Nasir in Upper Nile State, South Sudan, late Sunday, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction, as reported by local officials and witnesses. The attack heightened tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar. Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep stated that the strike occurred around 11:40 PM, causing fires and unverified damage, with casualty figures yet to be confirmed.

Commissioner Thiep, aligned with Machar, indicated that victims were transported to hospitals and accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) of executing the bombing in retaliation for previous hostilities in the region. Additionally, he noted that Longechuk County also experienced bombings, though specifics were lacking. Video footage circulating on social media depicted flames consuming structures in Nasir, corroborated by local armed commander Tet Chuol Gatkuoth, who confirmed the attack, but stated that assessments of the damage were still pending.

The airstrike occurs amid rising conflicts; Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok recently expressed intentions to reclaim Nasir following the death of an SSPDF commander. This region is strategically significant due to its proximity to the Ethiopian border and had recently fallen under the control of the White Army, which Kiir’s faction alleges has ties to Machar. This offensive has raised alarm about a potential return to war between the parties, which previously endured a civil war from 2013 to 2018, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives.

The fragile unity government formed after the 2018 peace agreement has been further undermined by escalating violence and the arrests of several of Machar’s associates in Juba, intensifying the instability of the power-sharing framework. Nasir remains a critical area of contention due to the recent capture of an SSPDF base by the White Army on March 4.

In conclusion, the recent airstrike in Nasir represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the factions led by President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. With civilian casualties, property destruction, and claims of retaliatory actions, this incident underscores the fragile state of peace in South Sudan. The situation in Nasir, a strategic location, continues to pose serious threats to the stability of the region and the integrity of the unity government established in 2018.

Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org