The Sudanese air force allegedly bombed part of Maban County in the northeast of South Sudan, on the border with Blue Nile State where insurgents have been fighting the Sudanese government since 2011.
County Commissioner James Basha told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that two bombings were carried out by Antonov aircraft coming from Sudan. He said at least six people were in the first attack and many livestock in the second attack.
In the latest attack on Wednesday, an airplane bombed Guffa area in northern Maban County, causing the deaths of a large number of cattle, said Basha. The attack may have been targeting forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North.
“Before two weeks there was also a bombing at Khor Tombak. Khor Tombak belongs to Maban County, far from the border of the Republic of Sudan,” he added.
In the attack six people died, including two men, three women and a child, while four others were wounded. The women and child were refugees traveling from Blue Nile toward the refugee camps in Maban County, whereas the men were local residents, said Basha.
The county commissioner noted that the matter was reported to national authorities in South Sudan, and he called on the government led by Salva Kiir to take the matter up with Khartoum.
File photo: Southern Blue Nile State, May 2012 (Tomo Kriznar)