UN Rights Panel Slams Hospital Bombing in South Sudan
On Saturday, an airstrike hit the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Old Fangak, located in South Sudan’s Jonglei state. This incident resulted in the death of at least seven civilians and injured numerous others, including patients, nurses, and doctors. "This event wasn’t merely a regrettable mishap; it constituted a deliberate assault on a safeguarded healthcare center—an apparent contravention of international humanitarian laws which may be categorized as a war crime," stated Commissioner Yasmin Sooka.
She stated that attacking healthcare institutions and services contravenes the Geneva Conventions and constitutes an outright attack on the principles of humanitarian efforts aimed at safeguarding civilians during conflicts. "Those behind this must be swiftly identified, investigated, and brought to justice," she emphasized in a press release issued on Tuesday.
The bombing came after the SSPDF spokesperson Maj-Gen Lul Ruai Koang publicly said on Friday that if armed forces did not quickly free the hijacked vessels at Adok Port in Leer County, retaliatory military action would be taken.
The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic served as the primary healthcare center for over 40,000 individuals in the Old Fangak region. The organization verified that the assault led to the total devastation of the hospital along with all medical provisions. This tragic loss leaves a populace already weakened by strife and displacement without access to urgent treatment and obstetric care.
Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández stated that attacking medical facilities is not just illegal but also cruel. "Hospitals should remain sanctuaries, free from combat zones," he emphasized. "The incident in Old Fangak reflects increasing lawlessness and disrespect for human life that needs immediate attention." The statement added: "Reliable sources have confirmed additional air strikes occurred near dawn on May 5th in the Phom region of New Fangak. Bombs were reported to land close to both an INGO facility and the County Commissioner’s office.”
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPD), currently engaged in combat with the White Army in the area, have not commented on the recent bombing. This silence has left many observers questioning whether the militias can afford to use drones.
The conflict is expanding from Nasir in Upper Nile State to Jonglei.
Read: Seven dead, twenty wounded in explosions in South Sudan. Observers of South Sudan have cautioned that labeling certain areas as "hostile regions" by the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, amounts to ethnic discrimination against a particular group.
UNCHR Commissioner Barney Afako stated that the Fangak attack appears not to be an isolated event. "Labelling the whole Fangak community as hostile is highly irresponsible and could lead to retaliation and collective punishment. Such practices should cease, and these classifications ought to be revoked without delay," he emphasized.
The United Nations has cautioned that ongoing breaches of the ceasefire agreement are pushing the nation perilously near to an all-out national crisis, particularly if assaults akin to those in Jonglei persist without consequence. "This could render the Peace Accord void," stated the declaration. "It is imperative for the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, along with the broader international community, to take firm action."
The assault on May 3 increased the strain on the AU, as Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf embarked on his inaugural trip to the nation’s capital, Juba, beginning on May 6. His aim was to halt the escalation of hostilities before they spiraled into an all-encompassing war.
Since the signing of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), the country has seen a period of comparative calm.
However, the circumstances have worsened since the assault on the Nasir garrison in March and the imposition of house arrest on Dr. Machar.
President Salva Kiir and his supporters have charged Dr. Machar with instigating the Nasir revolt and intend to bring him to trial.
Dr. Machar and his SPLM-IO group have refuted these claims and charged President Kiir and his close associates with attempting to sabotage the peace deal signed in 2018. This information was provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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