According to eyewitnesses and local authorities, the airstrike—conducted early Saturday morning—killed at least four civilians, including a child, a woman, and two young men. The incident has sparked widespread outrage among human rights defenders and peace advocates, who are calling for regional and international accountability mechanisms to be urgently activated.
“We were shocked upon learning about the unfortunate incident that occurred in Fangak County… This incident resulted in the killing of four, including a child, a woman, and two young men,” said Bol Deng Bol, Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, in a press statement.
Bol described the attack as a gross violation of humanitarian norms, particularly due to the targeting of a healthcare facility operated by MSF, which serves thousands in the war-affected region.
“It is very unfortunate that the SSPDF continues to take civilian lives and destroy properties whenever and wherever they deem fit and with impunity,” Bol added. “We call on IGAD and the African Union to restore an environment conducive to peaceful conflict resolution within the Unity Government.”
Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), also condemned the bombing, describing it as a dangerous escalation in the conflict between the SSPDF, SPLA-IO, and local militias including the White Army.
“CEPO strongly condemns the bombardment of Old Fangak, particularly the strike on the MSF medical facility. The ongoing violence is unacceptable,” Yakani stated.
Yakani urged CTSAMVM—the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism—to launch an immediate investigation into the attack and called for urgent regional intervention.
“This is real lawlessness. What we are witnessing—hijackings of humanitarian boats and bombing of civilian populations—can spark ethnic killings and full-blown war,” he warned.
Both civil society leaders emphasized that the violence undermines South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement and threatens to undo years of fragile progress.
“It is timely for the African Union, IGAD, and EAC to act. This is the moment to demonstrate the AU’s commitment to silencing the guns in Africa,” Yakani concluded.
As the international community continues to monitor the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan, pressure is mounting on the transitional government to uphold its commitments to peace, civilian protection, and humanitarian access.
