Stray bullet hits infant in Upper Nile state clash

June 29, 2915 (MALAKAL)- A stray bullet hit an infant on the leg at the United Nations protection of civilians site in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state capital, Malakal following violent clashes between the country’s main rival forces over the weekend.

In a brief statement issued Monday, Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman of the UN Secretary General, said some mortar rounds landed near the UN base in Malakal.

“Some mortar rounds landed near the UNMISS compound outside Malakal Town during the height of the fighting on Saturday, 27 June and some stray bullets entered the Mission’s protection-of-civilians site, wounding one infant in the leg,” said Haq.

“Sporadic gunfire continued in Malakal yesterday [Sunday],” added the UN official.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that the Upper Nile state capital was attacked by armed opposition forces on Saturday evening as fighting continued all through the night.

The armed opposition forces on Sunday claimed to have taken control of the strategic oil-rich state capital, which has changed hands several times between the two rival forces.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million have been displaced since fighting started in the young nation in mid-December 2015.

(ST).