Seven people were killed and 14 wounded in an air raid in Mayom, Unity State on Sunday at 19:15, according to a state official. The number of dead and wounded could not immediately be verified by sources in Mayom.State Information Minister Gideon Gatpan Thoar told Radio Tamazuj from the state capital of Bentiu that among the dead was a Ugandan woman who sold medicines in the area. Among the wounded were children, he added, two of whom are being treated in Bentiu Hospital.

Gatpan said that the bomber intended to hit civilians and UN peacekeepers who maintain a County Support Base in Mayom. He said the bombing damaged a generator on the UN compound. However, given the presence of a key bridge in the area, the bomber may have been aiming for this more strategic target. According to an NGO source, the UN base is near the commissioner’s office and the bridge.

The town of Mayom is located in the north-western part of Unity State. The town was used as a base by SPLA forces last year in their fight against rebels active in the areas around Mayom and Mankien.

Bombings yesterday near the Mayom and Rubkona-Bentiu bridges in Unity state raise the prospect that Sudan could succeed by its air power to cut key supply routes to South Sudanese forces defending the newly captured oilfields of Heglig.