(NASIR COUNTY, UPPER NILE STATE) – Reports from local residents and community leaders say South Sudan government forces carried out air strikes on 18 August, targeting Madeng Payam in Nasir County. The area is said to be sheltering civilians displaced from earlier clashes, when government troops temporarily forced White Army youth out of Nasir town and, months earlier, from SPLM-IO strongholds in Fangak County.
The use of aerial bombardment has heightened concern that the fragile peace process may collapse, sparking a return to widespread conflict. United Nations officials have on several occasions warned South Sudan’s leaders not to take actions that could push the country back into civil war.
President Salva Kiir has linked the latest violence in Nasir to his political rival, First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Dr Riek Machar. He accused Machar of directing attacks that resulted in the death of a senior government general. Machar has strongly rejected the accusations, denying that he ordered White Army youth to attack government troops in Nasir County.
Human rights groups have condemned the reported aerial strikes, describing them as violations of international humanitarian law since they risk harming civilians. The organisations have urged both government and opposition forces to resolve their differences through dialogue, to respect the ceasefire, and to ensure that non-combatants remain protected.
The African Union and other regional peace partners have renewed calls for South Sudanese authorities to remove restrictions placed on Machar. Despite these repeated appeals, the government has not eased the measures. Presidential adviser Kuol Manyang recently said the restrictions were not political in nature, but were tied to alleged criminal actions, including those related to incidents in Nasir.
