Airstrike in Nasir Claims 21 Lives, Intensifies Regional Conflict
An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan killed at least 21 civilians, including women and children. Accusations are directed at the SSPDF and UPDF for attacking residential areas. Local officials emphasize the need for peace, and investigations into potential war crimes are being called for amidst ongoing violence in the region.
On Sunday night, an airstrike in Nasir town, Upper Nile state, resulted in the deaths of at least 21 civilians, including two women and two children. Local reports indicate that a survivor remains in critical condition. Witnesses allege that the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) were responsible for the assault, which targeted residential areas and inflicted severe property destruction.
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a commander of the White Army, stated that victims were “burned to death” as several bombs struck the town. He confirmed that of the casualties, 17 died instantly, and only one injured person remains alive after succumbing to their wounds.
Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew Thiep corroborated the casualty figures and reported renewed bombardments an hour prior, affecting Ngueny Boma in Koat Payam. He stated, “We are still trying to assess the casualties from the aerial bombardment this afternoon. The mobile network is also down in the Koat area.”
In response to the violence, the commissioner called on the national government to forge a resolution for enduring peace, stressing the necessity of dialogue to address the nation’s conflicts. Following the attack, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced operations in South Sudan to support President Salva Kiir amidst escalating instability.
Reports indicate that Uganda had deployed military forces to South Sudan last week, citing security reasons. The situation in Nasir, a strategically significant border town with Ethiopia, has become increasingly tense following its capture by the White Army earlier this month, which the government links to opposition leader Riek Machar. The civil conflict between these leaders has caused nearly 400,000 deaths from 2013 to 2018.
Civil society activist Edmund Yakani has called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of peace monitors to investigate the airstrike, stating that “Crimes against humanity are unfolding in plain sight,” while demanding accountability. This escalation follows Defence Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok’s vow to retake Nasir after SSPDF losses during a failed UN evacuation earlier this month.
The airstrike in Nasir, which resulted in the tragic loss of 21 civilian lives, reflects the ongoing violence and instability in South Sudan. The involvement of both South Sudanese and Ugandan military forces exacerbates tensions in the region, highlighting the urgent need for dialogue and peace. Activists and local officials call for an immediate ceasefire and accountability for the atrocities committed, as the search for lasting solutions continues.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
