South Sudan to strengthen air defence system, says official
November 6, 2014 (WAU) – South Sudan is planning to acquire air defence equipment that will help protect the country’s territorial integrity, defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk said Thursday.
He described as unacceptable the recent attacks allegedly carried out by the Sudanese war planes in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, saying the act contravened international laws on countries’ borders.
According to officials, at least 35 people were killed and 17 others wounded during Sunday’s attack, which occurred in Raja county.
“Not only is South Sudan targeting its air space, but as a national army, we are deploying our troops along South Sudan’s border with provocative nations, which are always aggressive [to us],” said Juuk.
He warned that Sudan’s provocative air attacks could jeopardise efforts to demilitarise the buffer zones between the two countries.
On Monday, hundreds of citizens and civil society group in the Western Bahr el Ghazal capital, Wau, took to streets in protest against the aerial bombardment allegedly carried out by Sudanese warplanes. They demanded that tough actions by taken on Sudan.
South Sudan and neighouring Uganda recently signed a military cooperation agreement, which among others, permits the latter to buy military equipments on behalf of the young nation, in addition to other forms of support.
CALLS FOR ARMS EMBARGO
On Tuesday, over 50 domestic and international human right groups urged South Sudan’s neighbours to urgently call on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to put in place an arms embargo that could end the conflict in the young nation.
In its petition to regional leaders, the group deplored the ongoing attacks on civilians in South Sudan, saying it resulted to the current humanitarian crisis.
Military clashes between the country’s warring parties continue to undermine peace efforts, despite a ceasefire agreement reached on 23 January and recommitted to in May.
(ST)