Nasir, South Sudan – In a harrowing escalation of violence in South Sudan, at least 21 civilians, including two women and two children, were killed in an airstrike on the town of Nasir, Upper Nile State, late Sunday night.
Witnesses and local officials have confirmed the deadly attack, which was reportedly carried out by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The bombing targeted residential areas, leaving destruction in its wake and escalating the already tense situation in this strategic border town.
According to local sources, the civilians who were killed were primarily in their homes when multiple bombs struck Nasir, causing widespread panic and devastation.
Ter Chuol Gatkuoth, a commander of the White Army, a militia group that holds sway in the area, described the horrific aftermath.
“The victims were burned to death,” he said. “Seventeen people died immediately from the bombing, and five others were seriously injured. Sadly, only one injured person remains alive now, as the rest succumbed to their wounds.”
The attack, which has left the community reeling, has spurred further military actions.
Nasir County Commissioner, Gatluak Lew Thiep, confirmed the casualties, noting that bombings resumed in the area on Monday afternoon, this time targeting Ngueny Boma in Koat Payam.
As of now, the mobile network has been cut off in the region, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage or further casualties.
This deadly bombing has significantly heightened tensions in Nasir, a critical border town situated near Ethiopia, which has been the focal point of military conflict.
The town was seized by the White Army on March 4, intensifying the already volatile situation in South Sudan.
The White Army has been accused of having ties to First Vice President Riek Machar’s faction, in opposition to President Salva Kiir’s government.
This latest violence brings to mind the horrific civil war that raged from 2013 to 2018, during which an estimated 400,000 people were killed in the brutal conflict between Kiir and Machar’s forces.
In a social media post, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, confirmed that Ugandan troops had commenced operations in South Sudan to “support” President Kiir’s government.
Uganda has previously confirmed the deployment of forces to the region, citing security concerns amid rising instability.
The bombardment has raised alarm among human rights organizations and civil society groups.
Edmund Yakani, a leading civil society activist, condemned the attack, calling for an immediate ceasefire and for peace monitors to investigate the strike.
“Crimes against humanity are unfolding in plain sight,” Yakani stated, demanding accountability from those responsible for the devastating loss of civilian lives.
The violence follows a pledge by South Sudan’s Defence Minister, General Chol Thon Balok, to retake Nasir after the SSPDF suffered casualties during a botched UN evacuation operation on March 7.
This recent airstrike marks a tragic chapter in South Sudan’s ongoing instability, with no resolution in sight.
The international community is urged to intervene to prevent further bloodshed and help bring about lasting peace to a nation that has endured decades of conflict.