Escalating Clashes and Casualties Near Ethiopia Border Following South Sudan Airstrike
A recent airstrike by South Sudan’s airforce resulted in 19 deaths, escalating tensions near the Ethiopia border. The violence follows clashes between government forces and the White Army. Accusations of connection to civil war factions complicate matters, and international responses evolve amid the ongoing conflict.
The airforce of South Sudan conducted a significant airstrike in the eastern region of the country, reportedly resulting in the deaths of approximately 19 individuals, per local accounts. This strike follows the withdrawal of government forces from the area due to escalated clashes with the White Army, an armed group primarily composed of ethnic Nuer youth. These events threaten to reignite the civil conflict that occurred from 2013 to 2018, claiming numerous lives.
In the town of Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border, violent confrontations took place between the White Army and government troops. The government has alleged that the First Vice President Riek Machar’s political party has affiliations with the White Army, a claim that Machar’s party has vehemently denied. Machar’s faction is known for opposing President Salva Kiir’s predominantly Dinka forces.
An incident earlier this month claimed the lives of 27 soldiers, including a South Sudanese general, when a U.N. helicopter attempting to evacuate them was attacked. Information Minister Michael Makuei announced the airstrike in Nasir, with community leader Kang Wan stating the incident occurred late Sunday night. Reportedly, of the 19 reported dead, 15 succumbed instantly while others later died from their injuries. Witnesses have described devastating scenes, noting that many bodies were severely burned.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) indicated that their facility in Ulang treated three injured patients from Nasir following the airstrike, two of whom were pronounced dead upon arrival. Local officials, including Commissioner James Gatluak Lew, surmised that the recent helicopter attack had prompted a retaliatory strike by South Sudan’s armed forces. In related developments, Uganda announced the deployment of special forces to Juba for security assurances, although the South Sudanese government refuted claims regarding the presence of Ugandan troops, while acknowledging some support for the national army.
The recent airstrike by South Sudan’s airforce has intensified conflicts near the Ethiopian border, leading to numerous casualties and risking a resurgence of the civil war. Accusations between the government and opposition factions continue to escalate, reflecting deeper ethnic tensions. The regional security situation remains precarious as both domestic and international response factors unfold, further complicating peace efforts in South Sudan.
Original Source: myind.net
