South Sudan’s armed opposition faction loyal to ex-First Vice President turned rebel leader, Riek Machar claimed Ugandan warplanes hired by Kiir’s administration carried out airstrikes on their base in the town of Waat in Bieh State on Wednesday morning.
The rebel-appointed governor of Bieh state, Koang Rambang, told Radio Tamazuj today that heavily armed Ugandan gunships bombed their positions at Waat airstrip and other areas within the state in an alleged attempt to target him.
“I am in the area where the warplanes have been dropping bombs and I saw the gunships with Ugandan flags because they hovered over the area very closely. I think they might have received information that I came to pay a visit to the IO forces at the airstrips in the capital Waat,” Rambang said.
The airstrikes left no people dead, the top armed opposition official stressed, adding that a number of cows were killed and five civilians wounded. He revealed that the bombing targeted Waat airstrip, Weideang, Boduot and Walgak areas.
Rambang noted that the wounded people were flown to Langken Hospital for treatment. Governor Rambang threated government forces in the town of Waat to surrender to their forces within 24 hours or risk being crushed.
For his part, the government-appointed minister of information, Peter Gatkuoth Makuach confirmed fighting in the town of Waat between the two rival forces on Wednesday.
However, the official didn’t give more details about clashes.