An airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, killed at least 19 people amid heightened tensions between government forces and the White Army militia. The incident follows accusations of political collusion and a recent UN evacuation attempt that resulted in military casualties. Local officials attribute the attack to potential retribution, while Ugandan forces are reported to be present in the region.
On March 17, 2025, an airstrike by South Sudan’s airforce resulted in the deaths of at least 19 individuals in the eastern town of Nasir, according to local residents. This incident transpired shortly after government forces retreated from the area following intense clashes with the White Army, an ethnic militia largely composed of armed Nuer youths, raising concerns about the potential resurgence of the civil war that claimed numerous lives between 2013 and 2018.
The conflict in Nasir has been exacerbated by allegations that the party of First Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer leader, is collaborating with the White Army, which had supported his forces during the previous civil war against President Salva Kiir’s predominantly Dinka troops. Machar’s political faction has refuted these claims of involvement.
A recent incident notably claimed the lives of approximately 27 soldiers, including a South Sudanese general, when a UN helicopter, aimed at evacuating them from Nasir, was attacked. Michael Makuei, South Sudan’s Information Minister, confirmed during a press conference that airforce bombings occurred in Nasir on Monday morning.
Local leader Kang Wan reported that the airstrike took place late Sunday night, with 15 individuals dying instantly and additional victims succumbing to their injuries later. He detailed a scene of devastation, stating, “All of them they got burned, everything got burned.” Medical aid organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirmed that three wounded patients from Nasir were treated, with two pronounced dead upon arrival at their hospital due to severe burns.
Commissioner James Gatluak Lew of Nasir County, an ally of Machar, indicated that the South Sudanese armed forces might have executed the airstrike as an act of retribution following last week’s helicopter incident. Additionally, the Ugandan military has positioned special forces in Juba, South Sudan’s capital, for security purposes, despite earlier denials from the government regarding their presence. Makuei acknowledged some Ugandan forces were present in support of the national army based on their operational requirements.
The recent airstrike in Nasir, South Sudan, which has claimed at least 19 lives, underscores the escalating violence in the region amid ongoing tensions between government forces and ethnic militias. With accusations of collaboration between the government and local militias, and the involvement of regional forces, the situation remains precarious as fears of another civil war loom large. Furthermore, the humanitarian implications are dire, as medical facilities respond to the urgent needs of those injured in the conflict.
Original Source: bdnews24.com
