Sudan’s army carries out new aerial bombardments on Unity State
Despite a call by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to cease hostilities immediately”, after the Sudan People’s Liberation Army’s (SPLA) withdrawal from the contested and oil-rich Heglig area, the recent bombardments on Unity State further escalate the tensions between Sudan and South Sudan.
According to Reuters, Sudan’s army spokesman, al-Sawarmi Khalid, denied the air force bombed anywhere inside South Sudan.
It is now clear that they have declared war.”
Peter Ruai Gatuor, who got injured by Monday’s bombardment of Rubkonta Market, says it is now clear that they (the Government of Sudan) have declared war, targeting innocent civilians” and not only the South Sudan’s army. I seriously call on the international community to intervene,” he continues.
Many South Sudanese blame the international community, especially the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) for demanding the withdrawal of the South’s troops from Heglig, yet Sudan’s army continues its attacks deep into South Sudan’s territory.
The Unity State Legislative Assembly Speaker, Simon Maguek Gai, asks the international community, which called for the withdrawal of the SPLA forces from Heglig”, to now put pressure on Omar al-Bashir to accept the international call for non-aggression” between Sudan and South Sudan.
However, Gai says that they will not just sit back and wait. The only possible response now is to also attack the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in their positions”.
Listen to the interview with Simon Maguek Gai:
