Govt soldiers shoot at aid boats on Nile near Malakal

Government soldiers on Monday shot at three boats on the Nile being used by aid groups about two kilometers from the UN base in Malakal.

Government soldiers on Monday shot at three boats on the Nile being used by aid groups about two kilometers from the UN base in Malakal.

A source working for a humanitarian organization in Malakal told Radio Tamazuj that the three barges were on their way to Wau Shilluk on the western bank of the Nile.

He added that when the barges reached 100 meters into the river some government soldiers opened fire on them, forcing the boat caring humanitarian team for one organization to return back, meanwhile the other two boats continued.

The source said there were no injuries among the organizations’ teams, attributing the move to the government’s unwillingness to allow humanitarian access to western Nile, which is under the control of the SPLM-IO.

However, Radio Tamazuj was unable to reach the government side for comment.