LANKIEN – South Sudan army planes have conducted days of aerial bombing in Nyirol County of Jonglei State, targeting major administrative and commercial infrastructures and forcing hundreds of civilians to flee their homes, according to witnesses.
An Antonov gunship started attacking Lankien town on Monday, November 10, as residents filmed it hovering over the SPLA-IO controlled area and firing machineguns and dropping ammunitions down targets.
The aerial bombardment follows weeks of tension resulting from the defection of alleged thousands of SPLA-IO forces to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Pading, Nyirol County.
SPLA-IO has also accused government forces of supplying arms to Pading. SSPDF Spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang could not immediately be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, in Nyirol County Commissioner James Bol has accused the SPLA-IO Commanders in Lankien of planning to attack his based in Pading citing receipt of credible information of the alleged matter.
Commissioner Bol warned against any hostile Movement toward Pading will not be tolerated.
