Hospital bombing in South Sudan results in at least seven fatalities.

In a recent violent incident in South Sudan, at least seven individuals lost their lives and another 20 sustained injuries after an attack on the town of Old Fangak. This alarming event has raised concerns regarding the fragile stability of the world’s youngest nation, which is grappling with the potential for a renewed civil conflict.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, strongly condemned the bombing of its hospital in Old Fangak on Saturday. In a statement, MSF described the attack as a significant blow to the region, marking the destruction of the last operational hospital and pharmacy in the area. The charity emphasized the urgent need for the protection of civilians and healthcare facilities, urging an end to hostilities.

Eyewitness reports indicated that helicopter gunships targeted the hospital and subsequently shelled the surrounding town. Mamman Mustapha, Head of Mission for MSF in South Sudan, expressed profound concern about the situation, noting that the facility had been a vital healthcare resource for the community since its establishment in 2014. As civilians fled in fear, the circumstances in Old Fangak were characterized as dire and catastrophic.

The timeline of the attack began around 4:30 AM local time, where two helicopter gunships dropped bombs on MSF’s pharmacy, annihilating vital medical supplies before firing upon the town for an extended period. Later assaults occurred, compounding the fear and panic among residents.

The United Nations has recently warned that South Sudan, which achieved independence in 2011, is teetering on the brink of a renewed civil war. Tensions between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar have escalated, particularly following the collapse of a power-sharing agreement earlier this year. Both leaders represent the two largest ethnic factions in the nation, the Dinka and Nuer, which have historically been embroiled in conflict.

Currently, Machar remains under house arrest amid allegations of subversion, further complicating the political landscape. The Fangak county commissioner, aligned with Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) party, has directed accusations toward the government regarding the attacks, suggesting that only state forces possess the capability to execute such operations.

In light of these events, several Western embassies, including that of the United States, have expressed their deepening concern over the deteriorating political and security climate in South Sudan. They have called upon President Kiir to release Machar and urgently pursue a dialogue aimed at finding a political resolution. A national election initially scheduled for 2023 has already been postponed twice and is now anticipated for 2026.

This incident underscores the pressing need for international attention and intervention to protect civilians and ensure stability in a nation richly endowed with potential yet challenged by a turbulent history.

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