In the early hours of Saturday morning, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) carried out air strikes that hit a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital. The attack killed four civilians, including a nine-month-old child, injured 25 others, and destroyed a pharmacy and sections of the town market.
“Around 4:30 a.m. today, helicopter gunships dropped a bomb on our MSF pharmacy and fired on the town for 30 minutes. Later, a drone bombed the market,” said MSF South Sudan in a public statement.
The bombing followed threats issued Friday by the SSPDF, which accused the White Army and elements of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) of seizing commercial boats. Old Fangak has recently seen a surge in military activity amid escalating tensions between rival factions in South Sudan’s fragile unity government.
In a statement issued Sunday, RJMEC condemned the aerial assault, stating it constituted a violation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“RJMEC urges CTSAMVM to expeditiously and thoroughly investigate the incident,” the statement read, adding that SSPDF and SPLA-IO must cooperate fully and provide safe and unhindered access to investigators.
RJMEC also appealed to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to provide logistical support to CTSAMVM to facilitate a full investigation.
The Commission warned that the attack marks yet another escalation in violations of the peace agreement, potentially derailing the already fragile implementation process. It emphasized that attacks on civilians and humanitarian operations are strictly prohibited under R-ARCSS.
“Such violent actions not only breach the terms of the Agreement but also undermine ongoing efforts to build lasting peace and stability through constructive and inclusive political dialogue,” RJMEC added.
This incident is part of a growing pattern of military confrontations and civilian casualties in South Sudan’s Nuer-majority regions, which have been labeled “hostile” by President Salva Kiir’s administration. Observers warn these actions could plunge the country further into political and ethnic turmoil as it approaches long-delayed national elections in December 2026.
