At least 21 people were killed in an airstrike on a village in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan, near the Ethiopian border on Sunday night. The attack follows recent clashes between government forces and the White Army, an ethnic militia active in the region.
Nasir County Commissioner Gatluak Lew confirmed the casualties, stating that 17 people died instantly in the bombing, while five others were injured. “Only one of the injured survived, bringing the death toll to 21,” he said. Among the victims was the local paramount chief, Paul Bol.
The aerial bombing occurred less than two weeks after government troops withdrew from the area following intense fighting. Local witnesses accused the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) of carrying out the attack, claiming it targeted civilian areas and destroyed homes.
Ugandan forces had reportedly warned local militias in Nasir to surrender or face military action, raising concerns over foreign involvement in South Sudan’s internal conflicts.
The renewed fighting in Nasir, a region bordering Ethiopia, has sparked fears of escalating violence reminiscent of the country’s 2013–2018 civil war. The government has accused the party of First Vice President Riek Machar of backing the White Army militia, which had allied with his forces during the previous conflict. However, Machar’s party has denied any involvement.
The situation remains tense as calls grow for an independent investigation into the bombing and the broader conflict in the region.